just got a Hydro letter saying they will NOW go ahead ignoring my request and install the meter anyway.....the usual stupid reasons, nothing new, just providing notice that in future additional costs will be borne by the old meter owners or will have to change over

stupid commie a-holes

Received same a few weeks ago. All this so meter readers can loose jobs

My latest e-letter is resigned

"Dear Sir/Madam-

I note from recent publications that not much has changed in regard to my request to not have a smart meter installed on my property and for the reasons set out below. Apparently threats of having electrical service interrupted or having fees charged for meter readings are no longer in the forefront.

It is also apparent to me that, despite the large outcry against these installations (for whatever reason, if not baseless paranoia or well founded concern, it doesn’t really matter, does it?), the good folks of this province have unanimously caved like a house of cards as is quite in keeping with the apathetic Canadian culture…afterall, those in power can do just about anything they wish to any taxpayer in this country and province and not pay any sort of price…..even get re-elected with new promises that they then will not keep.

-My township cannot even manage to control a bunch of deer that cause thousands of dollars of damage and have individuals taking up arms, taking up valuable police time and endangering us all.
-My banks can just willy-nilly change my accounts contracts and raise or institute banking fees merely by sending me a letter stating this fact and nullifying any agreements.
-My utility company has not learned a thing from experiments gone sour in California and has decided they have the right to Big Brother us into compliance with whatever contraption they dream up while they maintain a monopoly on electrical utility services.
-In keeping with this I suppose the pipeline is next to be approved by the province to “be safe and as certified by a professional engineer….who is on our payroll….. “ and pushed by the backroom deals of a certain prime minister who is most certainly a psychopath.

Keep selling out, you shortsighted minions!

It is pitiful. Shame on you for sitting on your hands and letting this happen, your balls must be almost non-existent in size despite your claims of grandeur. In case there is any question in regard to my motivation, please note that I will insist no smart meter is installed on this property.

Your (apparently fascist) comrade
Markus Koloska

"

Fascist is a word I've been tossing around as well. Don't forget our neighbors patrolling our formerly largest unprotected border with drones & using 911 as a tool to tap phones etc. ... All ideas our Prime minister seems to salivate over. All while ramming 'omnibus' legislation through Parliament that include deregulation of lakes & streams etc. in Cheney like fashion. FUCKERS

Latest News: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local ... ll-1.59575

Interesting comments as well. Thanks for the link Knottypat

http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/col ... n_ref_map=[]

Dear SSM.ca supporters,

Wireless Communications Expert Tours BC with Compelling Evidence *

for Health, Privacy and Safety Concerns*

This is an opportunity to hear Jerry Flynn, retired military officer,
speaking about the hazards of EMR - electromagnetic radiation
emissions - from wireless technologies, and how to protect your health
and that of your loved ones. With 22 years’ experience in Canada’s
and NATO’s army signals intelligence units, Flynn will present
overwhelming scientific evidence showing that the proliferation of
these wireless systems and devices in Society is both negligent, and
highly dangerous, especially to our new and future generations. Come
and hear the startling details on what the industry does NOT want you
to know!

Flynn's presentation supports the warnings from international
security experts that the proliferation of wireless smart meters
threatens our national security. Changing our vital electrical
generation and distribution grids - on which civilization depends -
into all wireless systems, renders us permanently vulnerable to, and
at great risk from potentially-devastating terrorist cyber-attack.

Please attend a meeting and donate to StopSmartMeters.ca.

*Victoria *• Feb 20 • Wed • 7pm

*St. Andrew’s High School • 880 McKenzie Ave *

*Salt Spring *• Feb 21 • Thu • 7pm

*Hart Bradley (Lion’s Club) Hall • 103 Bonnet Ave *

*Langley *• Feb 16 • Sat • 2pm

*Windsong Community • 20543 96th Ave *

*Burnaby *• Feb 17 • Sun • 2pm

*BC Firefighters Hall • 6515 Bonsor Ave *

*Gabriola *• Feb 18 • Mon • 7pm

*The Centre • 1475 Peterson Rd • reserve: 247-7444 *

*Nanaimo *• Feb 19 • Tue • 7pm

*John Barsby Comm. School • 7th & Bruce *

*Sunshine Coast *• Feb 23 • Sat • 7pm

*Roberts Creek Hall • 1309 Roberts Creek Rd *

*Salmon Arm *• Feb 26 • Tue • 7pm

*First United Church •20 4th St. SE *

See http://goo.gl/XcMf4 for more info

Contact

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local ... er-1.89467

Restoring Democratic Process to the Smart Metering Program

(Social Media Campaign Launching on March 25th)

Dear Stop Smart Meter Supporters,

Many of us have been following the Fortis hearings that recently
wrapped up in Kelowna— for those that have not, the hearings were in
challenge to Fortis having made application for the installation of
wireless electrical Smart Meters in their particular area(s) of
coverage. Fortis was certainly not provided a “cake walk” on this
issue, with some very qualified experts providing testimony regarding
the hazardous nature of this technology and the obvious dysfunction of
Health Canada Safety Code 6 when it comes to protecting the public.

Interestingly, the ruling by the Utilities Commission is not expected
for “a couple of months”. Really!!?? We must ask ourselves why
this would take a couple of months given the fact that the Commission
has already refused to hear two appeals in opposition to the BC Hydro
program, the BC Court of Appeals has refused to the hear the case, and
there is the pending case with the BC Human Rights Tribunal. Is the
Commission truly that uninformed and incapable of making a quick
decision, or is this timing politically motivated to ensure that no
decision is made until after the upcoming election??

The directors of StopSmartMeters.ca Society have given political and
media pressure a chance to succeed and now believe that a Citizens’
Initiative Petition (remember the HST?) will become the only means of
compelling our next government to act upon this issue. We must have
confirmation of public support in order to launch the petition and be
successful. That support can be shown by registering on our website at
http://stopsmartmeters.ca
.

Admin: We have hired a Social Media consultant and will be rolling out our
campaign on March 25th. Watch for us on Twitter, Facebook, Google+
Business Page, Pinterest Business Page, and LinkedIn. Please get the
word out to everyone that you know.

By working together and getting the word out we can once again come
together to flex our democratic muscle. We can take back our power!

Watch for us on the 25th!

Please also check out - http://blogtalkradio.com/bcpolitics
- James Smith, President, StopSmartMeters.ca talks to Sal Vetro about
the history of the Smart meter battle.

recent email reply....hey someone else clued to the Safety Code 6 did you catch the smear of another govt corporation, JL? haha....hey, we're not nearly as bad as the BC Ferries!!

Thank you for this response even though I didn’t particularly require one. I recognize that with this continued effort your corporation is attempting to whittle away at the last remaining strongholds against this initiative like an incessant badger in the hope that we all cave in light of your ongoing brainwashing and propaganda onslaught. Of course I realize you will probably succeed, however, not on account of this household and hopefully not easily or prior to the next election. As per your paragraphs, see my responses below:

-Thank you for noting this on my account….will it make a difference??

-Modernization does not mean potentially exposing to unknown health risks or permitting infringements on privacy, no matter how low or considered trivial by your firm. As an aside, a 50% increase in consumption of power means we have failed as a community, province and country to conserve energy which is very sad but means nothing to me personally, I have reduced my consumption steadily yet my bill keeps going up….of course!

-Again, being part of the 5% doesn’t make an impression on me, I won’t have one of these units installed on my property, thank you. Your threats of increased fees to retain my current power meter which has worked just fine since I moved here 20 years ago is basic blackmail.

-As to the info paragraphs you provide, they do not change my stance on the issues. Your silly statistical reference for example to exposure on BC Ferries only highlights that you don’t understand the value of personal choice. I happen to have at least a reasonable choice taking the ferry, not which electricity provide I prefer or that I require electricity. You have presented nothing that allays my concerns except perhaps that you accept the ridiculously outdated Safety Code 6 a valid document, which only serves to heighten them. I am an occupational health and safety specialist and happen to share the view that your reference is laughable.

-Your final paragraphs appear to contradict your foregoing first statement, indicating there is no opt-out option. Please note you have a monopoly on this service and I would opt to choose a different provider if I could, merely and purely based on your approach to this whole issue of driving this down everyone’s throats just because some group in your midst came up with smart meters as a brilliant yet totally unbaked idea…..How is the recouping of money going, by the way?? How many decades will it take and how do your meter readers and their families feel? Nothing in our service agreements, again, would indicate that I must consider infringing on my privacy or accept potential exposure to health risks because of the services you provide.

Please stop sending me more junk-mail of this type.
Regretfully.

kus
Victoria BC

Hydro Propaganda as follows:

Dear Mr. Kus

Thank you for contacting BC Hydro’s Smart Metering Department regarding the installation of a smart meter at your premises. BC Hydro is continuing to work with customers to answer questions about the new metering system. We feel it is important to maintain a dialogue with our customers to ensure that we have adequately provided this information. In the meantime, we will not install a smart meter at your premises without your agreement. We have noted on your account that you do not accept a smart meter at this time.

The Smart Metering Program is about a lot more than replacing the meters – it’s about upgrading our entire electricity system including meter sampling, distribution system maintenance, outage management, and energy load analysis. Compared to 50 years ago when our electricity grid was built, British Columbians are using new devices such as smart phones, computers and electric vehicles that all use more power. BC Hydro must modernize our electricity grid to keep up with the times and meet the current needs of our customers. Making this investment now is essential to keeping your rates among the lowest in North America as a 50% increase in electricity demand is projected over the next 20 years.

Currently 95 per cent, or 1.77 million smart meters have been installed, and a large percentage of these meters have been in operation for over a year. We need to complete the remaining 5% of installations in order to ensure that the electricity system can work optimally. The old meters are not compatible with the new system and it will become increasingly difficult to support them. It will cost far more to set-up and maintain incompatible and separate systems to serve customers without a smart meter and those extra costs will have to be passed on to customers. For this reason, keeping the old meter on your premises is not an option. We’d like to continue to work with you to understand your concerns before proceeding with the final meter installations.

Here is a little more information about a few topics some of our customers are concerned about.

Smart meters are safe, secure and accurate.
Safety is a core value at BC Hydro. This includes safety of both our customers and our employees, the majority of whom our BC Hydro customers as well. Despite the fact that radio signals such as those emitted by smart meters have been used safely for decades many customers still have concerns about public health. In response to these concerns, BC Hydro sought the opinion of the Provincial Health Officer, Health Canada, and the World Health Organization, all of whom have confirmed that wireless meters pose no known health risk or reason for concern. In fact, Health Canada has said: In the case of RF fields, health effects research on the subject has been ongoing for over 50 years and there are thousands of published studies. There is a great weight of evidence that RF field intensities below Safety Code 6 are not harmful.

The new meters use a wireless signal to transmit consumption and power quality information three times a day for a total of less than one minute each day. This signal is similar to a common radio or television signal has a strength level of less than 50 per cent of the strictest standards in the world, which are the precautionary limits set by Switzerland for schools and hospitals.

To put this into context, passengers taking the ferry between Horseshoe Bay and Departure Bay ferry terminals are exposed to the equivalent of 35 years’ worth of BC Hydro smart meter radio frequency in a single 1-hour and forty minute journey. More information about smart meters and radiofrequency, including the independent studies, can be found on our website at www.bchydro.com/smartmeters_safety.

Protecting Your Privacy is paramount. Protecting customer privacy is a priority for BC Hydro. BC Hydro is required by law to manage customer information according to the B.C. Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA). This Act prohibits BC Hydro from selling or disclosing personal information to third parties, unless required to do so by law. In response to customer concerns B.C.'s Information and Privacy Commissioner released a report into the Smart Metering Program's compliance with the Act. They confirmed that we have taken the right steps to protect our customers' information throughout the planning and implementation of the Smart Metering Program.

BC Hydro collects personal information like your name and address in order to establish and maintain your account and to provide electricity service. With smart meters, BC Hydro collects your hourly consumption information, which is also treated as personal information, to bill you for electricity service. The new meter will measure and report the aggregate amount of energy used in your home on an hourly basis, and three times per day it will send the previous eight hours of consumption information to BC Hydro. The meter itself does not contain any personal identifiers like your name, your address or your account number.

Security industry professionals recognize that the industry best practice of using multiple layers of security is the best way to ensure there are no single points of vulnerability from either a security or privacy perspective. BC Hydro's smart meters use multiple layers of security: the data is encrypted similar to online banking, transmitted through secure channels, processed in secured facilities, and managed by rigorous access control policies.

Measurement Canada ensures meter accuracy. BC Hydro is responsible for delivering electricity to its customers safely and reliably. All electricity meters are governed by Measurement Canada, a federal consumer protection agency, which has sole jurisdiction for the administration and enforcement of the Weights and Measures Act and the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act (Canada). Meters are tested extensively to ensure that every customer has a meter that is safe and working properly, and that meters meet BC Hydro and Measurement Canada accuracy standards.

The risk of a smart meter causing electrical problems is extremely low. The meters undergo extensive testing to comply with industry standards and ensure they are safe. They do not carry a charge and are designed so that it is impossible for the connectors to come into contact with each other so the risk of them causing electrical problems is the same extremely low risk that exists with the old meters.

A report by BC’s Provincial Fire Chief, Len Garis, showed that fires caused by electrical distribution equipment are extremely rare, and have actually decreased since smart meter installation began in July 2011. You can find this report online at https://colwood.civicweb.net/Documents/ ... x?ID=59885.

We need your assistance to ensure all smart meters are installed at all BC Hydro customers’ premises. As mentioned earlier, we need to complete the remaining 5% of installations in order to ensure that the electricity system can work optimally. We do not have an opt-out option, and un-installing a new BC Hydro meter is not an option. We can’t remove a smart meter once it has been installed because they are now standard operating equipment like utility poles and power lines. The old meters are being recycled and are no longer available.

In addition, when you request service from BC Hydro, you agree to the terms and conditions in BC Hydro’s Electric Tariff, including the obligation to provide access to your property so that we can read, maintain or exchange the BC Hydro meter.

I hope you have found the information outlined in this letter helpful. If you would like more information about the program and why we need to install the new meter, please contact us directly to speak to a member of the Smart Metering Specialist Team. To schedule the smart meter installation or to discuss the matter further, you can email us or phone us at 1-800-409-8199.

Additional information about BC Hydro’s Smart Metering Program can be found at www.bchydro.com/smartmeters.
Thank you again for expressing your questions and concerns.
Sincerely,
Sajeeta Saroop
Customer Experience Manager
BC Hydro Smart Metering Program

ok, we finally landed at $$

It's gonna cost me $35/mo to keep my old analog not-so-smart meter cuz they have to pay the meter readers to read my meter.....because they would not believe me of course by a phone call nor could they estimate my annual usage and read it once a year

But the real question is: If the meter readers cost extra money and we have to fund it, would it not follow that all the smart meters in place DON't cost any money to read, I should pay what I have always paid but therefore everyone else should get a monthly $35 discount, no

Good points. Have you joined the class action suit Don't respond to hydro's threatening letter.p.s.: My meter has only been read once per 2 months for years. http://citizensforsafetechnology.org/CL ... AGE,2,3344

a colleague at work just shared with me a way to listen to all the smart meter energy data in your neighbourhood ...cost ==> 20 bucks. You just buy a USB dongle off ebay. It doesn't look like the BC hydro data is secure at all. You can tap into the energy data coming from dozens of meters. But ...it's likely hard to figure our which neighbour though. Thought readers of this thread would be interested in this.

http://bemasher.github.io/rtlamr/