Comment: I'm calling Bull on your post

"By having smart meters, we can directly compete with the utility companies (yes they are fighting that battle and losing) by installing our own renewables.

Depending on your local resources, solar or wind can be much cheaper ways to power your house..."

The above is what you say but it's just not true. Smart meters have nothing to do with 'competition'. They are spying devices, pure and simple.
And solar doesn't work in most areas because what they supply to the serfs isn't powerful enough. Solar doesn't work at all at certain latitudes. If you 'go off-grid' you go off grid. Period. Wind energy as is, is a complete farce. Won't work unless there is sustained wind and that doesn't happen.