BC Hydro smart meters have been colossal failure

ByKamloops This Week- Jan 8, 2017

Editor:

The B.C. Liberal government’s Clean Energy Act forced smart meters on everyone.

Compare the promises with the outcome:

a) “Energy rates will be reduced.” This has not happened anywhere. Look at Ontario, for example.

b) “It’s good for the environment.” How? Where has this proven to be true?

c) “There will be efficiencies.” Not with life spans of smart meters being far shorter than given in the business case — closer to five years than the promised 20.

d) “Measurements Canada has stricter guidelines that analogs don’t meet.” Not true, according to Measurements Canada itself. They don’t care what meter is used, as long as it’s accurate.

e) “Analogs are not available.” Not true. Look to California.

f) “Smart meters are safe in every regard.” Not true. Health is endangered by radio frequency, safety by fires and security by hacking and cyberattacks.

g) “Costs will be reduced.” Not when the meters are being replaced/upgraded virtually constantly. Not when security measures could cost billions and were never included in the initial business plan.

A BC Hydro rep told me they “treat everyone equally,” yet was silent when I questioned the extortion fees the refuseniks were paying for manual readings, while smart meter owners receive the same service without extra charge.

The BC Utilities Commission was disempowered by former premier Gordon Campbell’s mandate. Had it been able to do its job, the smart-meter program would have been revealed for the colossal financial fiasco it is, endangering our health, privacy, safety and security.

Stop it now and cut our losses. Get these smart meters recalled and bring the safe, cheap, dependable analogs back by changing the Clean Energy Act.

P. Gregson
Clearwater

Source: http://fliuch.org/bc-hydro-smart-meters-have-been-colossal-failure/
            https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/bc-hydro-smart-meters-colossal-failure/

CER Smart Metering Project – Phase 3 – Public Consultation

Fliuch members constantly look out for news about smart meters yet none of us saw this announced in any newspaper or on any radio or TV station – did you?

Putting a call out for public opinion during storms and flooding and so close to Christmas makes us suspect that the timing was deliberate and cynical.

We’ve looked through the five documents on the CER website (38 pages, 44 pages, 50 pages, 38 pages and 4 pages) and even though we have technically minded people even we found it difficult to see how a ‘regular’ member of the public could make an informed submission about this.

The CER has already made huge decisions that will affect all of us yet with extremely little input from the citizenry. Such big decisions that have economic, health and privacy implications for all of us should involve forums where people can physically attend, ask questions and make ‘amateur’ submissions (submissions that don’t involve getting a degree in electromechanics, communications or economics etc.).

We would encourage everyone to follow the smart meters link on this website and browse through other posts relating to smart meters.

Published: 8/Dec/2015

Response Deadline: 22/Jan/2016

Consultation Open – Responses to: smartmetering@cer.ie

CER has today, Tuesday 8 December 2015, published decisions relating to the rollout of Time of Use Tariffs (ToU) and Smart Pay-As-You-Go, to be facilitated by smart meters.

CER also invites views from members of the public and industry on proposed decisions relating to regulation of transition activities for market participants and consumer protection.

Closing date for responses is the 22nd of January 2016.

More: http://www.cer.ie/document-detail/SmartMeteringProject-Phase3/1021