How is my power/utility company able to monitor my daily energy usage and let me change the thermostat?

Hi, our local power company started to show daily energy usage when I check my online account and also lets me change the thermostat. In the recent years they have installed a newer thermostat.

1. I am guessing that they have "broadband over powerline" and that way the devices are a "modem" of sorts. What stops them from being a broadband company in such a case?

2. The above still doesn't explain how they are tracking my daily energy usage.

Thanks.

Submitted March 09, 2017 at 12:03PM by fershey17 http://ift.tt/2m50B3b via TikTokTikk