"Sir, why is your usage so high? Are you growing drugs?"

"No, I'm just running my own data center in my basement."

This scheme has targeted Asian customers. SMUD analysts deemed one home suspicious because it was “4k [kWh], Asian,” and another suspicious because “multiple Asians have reported there.” Sacramento police sent accusatory letters in English and Chinese, but no other language, to residents who used above-average amounts of electricity.

Surveillance and racism from the combined forces of the police and the state while residents foot the bill for all of it.

Not limited to the US. It's an open secret that this happens pretty much everywhere for the simple reason that cops everywhere LOVE low-hanging fruit. Just drive up to residence, make the arrests, tally the notches and play the hero. No investigations or annoying red tape required.

This scheme has targeted Asian customers. SMUD analysts deemed one home suspicious because it was “4k [kWh], Asian,” and another suspicious because “multiple Asians have reported there.”

So we know racist police officers appear to enforce the crime of "Driving while black", but Sacramento has now expanded this to a new crime of "Asian while at home using air conditioning".

also note those home monitoring devices that attach to your breakers and monitor the signatures of specific devices. nothing stopping a power meter from doing similar.

It honestly doesn't matter if utility corps don’t this: anyone can do this. Which is why you need the PSUs, Faraday cages, and noise filters.