Clean AC power

I've posted they before but some time ago I spoke to an AT&T tech who doing an install in my neighbors apartment. He used to teach electrical engineering at the local community college but preferred to work out in the field. 

He told me that they were sending up to 5 TBs of data using the fields generated by the power in the lines across the city. That doesn't just stop at a transformer, and if anything, engulfs it. More than some of that will make it's way down the line to your place, to dirty up the AC.

That was years ago and it doesn't seem too much to think all carriers are doing something of the sort all over the place.

All the best,
Nonoise

steakster,
I forgot about those devices as I'm still hooked up to the old time meters that some poor DWP worker has to schlep around narrow back corridors to get their readings. 

But how better a way to transmit the data back than to use the fields generated by the power lines themselves, adding to all the mess we hear on our AC lines. When you look at it that way, nothing is safe or clean.

All the best,
Nonoise

    OP,   The greasy ’grunge’ that you removed from the breaker clips is called N0-Ox, and is intended to keep the breaker contacts that were covered with it, clean, and free from oxidation. If they were protected, with No-ox, they aren't now. Try try again.

@vgizzi
Generally speaking, everyone’s electrical situation is unique, components differ in their resistance to electrical noise, audio systems differ in their transparencies/resolutions/noise floors, and people have different hearing preferences and abilities.  While you may be able to draw some general conclusions, everyone’s situation is unique.

I suggest trying yourself to see if any sonic upticks- seems most folks do.  To save $ find vendors w free trial or buy used and resell if you’re not satisfied.