Did you tell B.C. Hydro to go to hell when it tried to install a smart meter?

by Martin Dunphy on Dec 12, 2011 at 6:20 pm

Have you told B.C. Hydro—either by phone, letter, email, outdoors sign, or verbally to an installation technician—that you do not want to have a “smart meter” installed at your residence?

Did you state the reasons for your wishes, whether they be related to health, safety, or privacy concerns?

Have you received a reply from B.C. Hydro? Did Hydro threaten to cut off your power if you refused to have a smart meter installed? Did Hydro threaten legal action of any kind?

Was a smart meter installed despite your stated preferences?

The Georgia Straight is interested in YOUR answers to the above questions. Please email us at contact@straight.com and let us know.

Please include, if you wish, your name and a contact phone number. These will NOT be published without your express consent. This information is to be used for research purposes only. You may be contacted by a Straight reporter.

Thank you for your time and assistance in this matter.

Comments (50) Add New Comment
Crystal
Dec 12, 2011 at 8:34 pm
BC Hydro installed 30 (!!!!) smart meters a few feet away from us and we have no say because we are renters. We'll be emailing you. On top of that, there was a power surge when they installed them and it fried our hard drive and we've lost 6 months worth of pictures and data on our computer (which no longer works).
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Lawson1945
Dec 12, 2011 at 8:53 pm
Not yet but we will when they come along and going tell the same to Translink with their 2 cents on gasoline, these agencies have to pay with firings and cut off high pay, they are useless individuals
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Morty
Dec 12, 2011 at 11:39 pm
I'm waiting for smart meters to be installed in our building. It's the 21st century. Having people come to the building to read a meter that could more easily (and more accurately) be read remotely while paying the same for electricity regardless of demand is just idiotic. We have the technology to do better. Besides, fears about wi-fi are wholly unfounded. There's absolutely no science to back them up.

I love the Straight, but between the HST and smart meters it seems to have cornered the market on uninformed conspiracy types.
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K R O
Dec 13, 2011 at 12:40 am
They have installed meters all around me in this rural area, even before I put my sign up, but I'm sure they'll be back ...they probably don't like the fact the meter is installed on a pole up a 6' bank. they'll be back. And then I'll tell them to get the ^&() off the property. I don't like scabs working on MY meter base anyway.
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HempGrower
Dec 13, 2011 at 1:03 am
Yah, I told them to piss off, they come back with a warrant.
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pam
Dec 13, 2011 at 7:57 am
our meter is locked, with a sign stating go away. im happy for the smart meters but they can wire them in like they have in italy. no more excessive emfs.
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S A S
Dec 13, 2011 at 8:33 am
We have WiFi almost in every household, however it doesn´t justify to multiply the health hazards exponentially with new sources and still wonder why the rate of cancers, dementia, depression, insomnia, chronic diseases etc rise. There are many other reasons than health concerns that are also worth to be informed about that affect our future, e.g. incompatibility of smart meters with other green energy sources like solar panels.
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L Jeanne Hancock
Dec 13, 2011 at 8:48 am
No, I didn't tell them to go to hell, but I did write a note on a sign attached to our analogue meter, telling them that I didn't want a Smart Meter on my home and if I came home and found that they had replaced our analogue meter, I would be in touch with my local MLA and the media.
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Graham Forsythe
Dec 13, 2011 at 9:01 am

Dear Cindy Verschoor,

Thank you for your response on August 19, 2011 for my request to be put on the delay list. On your BC hydro bill which is sent out to your customers it states that "Knowledge is Power". I subscribe to this belief too and because we live in an information and open book society I have done my own research on smart meters. Armed with this knowledge I believe your letter is sincere but I also believe that BC Hydro is sincerely wrong in their decision to proceed without public input with the installation of these devises. As I am sure you are aware I am not alone in this opinion since it is shared by many high profile people and Politicians around the world.

My family, health and privacy rank at the top of my priority list and if I allowed the installation of this device at my residence it could be potentially dangerous to my personal and family members well being, as well as violating my rights under the Canadian Charter. 8. Everyone has the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure. I realize we are protected under BC's privacy laws but that gives me cold comfort because of recent events such as ICBC volunteering Driver's License pictures to the RCMP or the installation of Body Scanners at Airports and intrusive pat-downs. Due to this I have refrained from flying and am reluctant to give anyone access to my private information as it is never truly protected. In light of the above mentioned and the fact that I suffer from headaches, sleep disorders and tinnitus when I am in close proximity to a wireless device you do not have my consent to install a Smart Meter at my residence. Please also be aware that if I can't be reached by one of your representatives or I haven't responded to one of your letters it simply means I am unavailable at that time not that you have my implied consent. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

Sincerely yours,
Graham Forsythe
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Argulion
Dec 13, 2011 at 9:03 am
If BC Hydro has 'evidence' proving the safety of wireless smart meters, I suggest the submit it to the WHO and get the Class 2B designation removed. Until that happens, IMO, BC Hydro is promoting and installing candy coated DDT on every home in BC. (DDT - WHO Class 2B health hazard)
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Mandeep
Dec 13, 2011 at 9:27 am
I told them we don't wan it installed so they left and came back when I wasn't home. Should have tied my dog next to the meter
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Mooney
Dec 13, 2011 at 9:33 am
Funny how Glen Clarke was attacked by the RCMP for allegedly accepting bribes in the form of deck repairs while Campbell, Clarke et. a.l can fire sale our Crown corporations to the likes of David Emerson and the RCMP do nothing.
Too close to contract time or too busy on the ICBC seat belt patrol I guess.
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melinda wilde
Dec 13, 2011 at 9:53 am
this is just WRONG!!! that money could have spent on something useful instead of lining the pockets of Gorden Campbell and his buddies! John Horgan says he has a money trail...I'd like to see that. Besides health and privacy...the whole thing just stinks! Unconstitutional and un due process...what is our government doing! This is no longer a democracy. We house crimminals as a huge expense to the tax payer and yet electro-sensitive law abiding citizens are having their health threatened without any recourse...how right is that?
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Kim
Dec 13, 2011 at 10:39 am
what the hell is everyone's problem? I have no problem with BC Hydro installing a smart meter - Happy 2012!!! If you lost your hard drive - maybe you need a better surge bar, and you should buy an external hard drive so you dont lose all your data?!
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Colleen Campbell
Dec 13, 2011 at 10:55 am
I have put up a metal grate over my analog meter and know Hydro hopes to pick off those who disagree one person at a time..that is not going to happen, I will have support.The determination shown by the liberal and hydro to install the meters is because they sold off choice when they passed the legislation..follow the money trail.
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Conscientious Gamer
Dec 13, 2011 at 11:15 am
Yes, and as I stood there beating my chest and hollering at the top of my lungs, the man noticed the decorative skulls adorning the perimeter of my yard.

Later that night I did a dance for rain to help my crops, but had to cower for a couple minutes as the moon was eclipsed.

I fear he shall return...
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Racquel Simper
Dec 13, 2011 at 11:23 am
I have locked off my box with wood and nails .I have sent letters as well.This is not a conspiracy theory about not wanting this tecnology.It is a unproven and potentially dangerous experiment on humans and wildlife combined.What is the rush to install these every where!why did 200 million Dollars from the Federal Government in the USA used for the purchase of smart meters get placed under a US military expenditure?What would happen if a smart meter had the electrical cycle lowered to between 8 and 13 cycles which is what the Human electrical field works on?
Food for thought!
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Todd
Dec 13, 2011 at 11:59 am
I welcomed the installation. I am stunned that we make such a fuss about supposed health risks supported by no evidence, while blithely accepting clear and obvious health risks like unsafe roads, too many cars, urban pollution, sleep disruption, poor emergency preparedness, etc.
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Alex22
Dec 13, 2011 at 12:54 pm
I have a bunch of tin hats you all can wear!
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Gill
Dec 13, 2011 at 1:49 pm
We have two laminated notices stating they are trespassing and we do not want the meters because of health issues and because we've read the letter that Campbell signed stating the rates would go up after they were all installed. They're lying to us right now that it will cost us less but how do you think these are to be paid for? And if you think the owners of the meter's are not going to want to paid very well, then you have your head iin a cloud. I also do not want them knowing what I'm doing during the day and when I am home and not home. Plus hackers can get all my private information. I do not appreciate all my rights being taken away.
The Corus installer knocked on our door to let us know he was going to install the meter. I informed him that we had a no trespassing sign on both sides of the meter. This was signed and dated and had our address on it. I advised me that he would have to take a picture of it which he did, and then he thanked me and left. I'm still waiting to hear from BC Hydro saying I have no choice. But I'll do with that then.
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