It's easy enough to tap into the service ahead of the meter. Or if you've taken the meter apart, adjust the analog signal conditioning. And so power companies monitor aggregate usage per neighborhood, and if there is a discrepancy, go looking.
In general most people are honest, most of the others are deterred by stiff penalties, and these issues are kept in check at "human scale". DRM schemes are more likely to be used to erode long-held precepts, rather than being needed to enforce them.
In general most people are honest, most of the others are deterred by stiff penalties, and these issues are kept in check at "human scale". DRM schemes are more likely to be used to erode long-held precepts, rather than being needed to enforce them.