Smart Meters and Grids :: Citizens for Safe Technology

Smart Meters and Grids

It is the plan of power and energy authorities worldwide to replace current disk-style (analogue) hydro, gas and water meters with digital "Smart Meters." These are wireless devices that use radiofrequency waves to monitor use and transmit information about each household's consumption. They are being enthusiastically promoted by governments and industry as a "green initiative," supposedly enabling utility companies to efficiently monitor consumption during peak and "down" times, and encourage wise use of energy and resources. The vision is that these "Smart Meters" will operate within a wider ranging "Smart Grid."

The information-carrying radio waves, transmitting 24/7, will effectively blanket homes and neighbourhoods with radiation that could adversely affect not just humans but all living systems. In particular, these meters have the potential to affect not only electrohypersensitive persons, but children and pregnant women, persons with medical conditions such as heart arrhythmia, those with compromised immune systems, and others who rely on medical and/or metal implants or equipment. In addition to health concerns, Smart Meters bring with them questions about fire and security hazards.

The costs of installing the new digital wireless meters is substantial, their accuracy is debatable, and there is much controversy as to whether or not the readings serve to decrease power use, or simply to increase power costs to consumers. Government employees who now read the disk-style meters total approximately 400 men and women in the province of British Columbia alone. Digital Smart Meters will effectively eliminate these jobs.

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Feb 21
2012

REPORT A PROBLEM

"The Coalition to Stop Smart Meters is asking everyone who is experiencing any problems during the installation of a smart meter or after having a smart meter installed to contact them at: coordinator1@stopsmartmetersbc.ca

"The problems can be related to any issue such as:
- Intimidation, threats, bullying, harassment by Corix installers or BC Hydro
- Increased utility bills
- Damage to appliances, meters or property
- Interference with home or medical equipment
- Health. Health effects most often reported in other jurisdictions include, but are not limited to: Tinnitus or Ringing in the ears, Palpitations, Tachycardia, Arrhythmia, Headaches, Dizziness, and Sleep disturbance

"It is important that all problems be reported in detail, with date of installation of the smart meter, and the date when problems occurred, began or were first noticed. Such data could be useful for legal redress . . .

BILL INCREASE
TELL YOUR STORY TO B.C. NEWSPAPERS

Feb 19
2012

Presentation by Werner Hoffelinck - Vernon CST

Feb 18
2012

B.C. Hydro is in the process of installing wireless "smart" meters on 99% of homes and businesses in the province of British Columbia, with a target completion date of December, 2012. Many believe and assert they have done so without due diligence or public education, using "implied consent" as their reason to proceed without permission of the people of B.C.

This form letter is for those who have had a chance to learn more about the negative effects of living and/or working in the vicinity of wireless smart meters, who do not accept the risk this involves, and who wish to officially register their opposition in the form of a demand for removal of the wireless smart meter, and the re-installation of a wired, analogue meter.

NB You will need to download it in order to copy and paste it into your own email, and fill in your information before sending.

It would be a good idea to also register your situation with your mayor and council. Address finder here.

If you do NOT already have a wireless "smart meter?" After posting (ASAP) a sign with your address, name and date, on your meter and on your door, you can send the original Letter of Non-consent to register your wish to keep your analogue meter after posting your intention to.

Via electronic mail to: smartmeters@bchydro.com and info.utilities@corix.com

Also via Canada Post to:

BC Hydro,
Smart Meter Specialist Department
6911 Southpoint Drive, Burnaby BC, V3N 4X8

Attention B.C. Hydro, Corix Utilities and agents and/or assignees thereof:

Re: DEMAND FOR REMOVAL of any wireless Smart Meter at my Residence/Workplace AND RE-INSTALLATION of Analogue/Wired Meter

Dated: _______________, 201__ B.C. Hydro Account # on bill_____________

Address: ___________________________________________________________

Please accept this as your official notice from this date forward of my absolute demand for the removal of any wireless Smart Meter installed on my Residence / Workplace AND for the re-installation, at BC Hydro's expense, of a wired, analogue meter on my home or premises at

full address ________________________________________________________

Take notice that B.C. Hydro, Corix Utilities and /or agents and assignees thereof did not have my authorization, permission or consent to enter my property, business or premises for the purpose of replacing my previous meter with a new wireless Smart Meter.

Your action of installing this device on my property or residence is constituted as trespass and a violation of rights afforded to me as a citizen of Canada.

I refuse your wireless Smart Meter on the grounds that it has the capability of being a surveillance system, used by you or other parties, which could violate my right to privacy.

Also: My fundamental democratic right to protect my health from a possible carcinogen, specifically radiofrequency electromagnetic fields emitted by your wireless Smart Meter, supersedes any right you have to install a wireless Smart Meter on my property.

You only have authorization to attend at my property for the purpose of reinstalling a non-wireless analogue meter, and reading it manually.

Name in full ________________________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________________________

Copy (Cc) to

Liberal BC Leader Christy Clark, Minister of Energy Rich Coleman, NDP Energy Critic John Horgan, BC Chief Medical Officer Perry Kendall, NDP Deputy Health Critic Sue Hammell, Green Party Federal Leader Elizabeth May, Minister of Health, Mike de Jong, NDP Health Critic Mike Farnworth,
NDP BC Leader Adrian Dix, Green Party BC Leader Jane Sterk, BCRefed Leader Ingrid Voigt

premier@gov.bc.ca, rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca, john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca, perry.kendall@gov.bc.ca, sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca, elizabeth.may@greenparty.ca, mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca, mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca, adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca, leader@greenparty.bc.ca, ingridrefed@gmail.com

This letter format can be accessed, downloaded, cut and pasted into your own email from:citizensforsafetechnology.org (Smart Meter Action Kit under "REMOVAL LETTER")

Feb 18
2012

This letter can be sent to Hydro and its affiliates if they say, by phone or in writing, that you must meet with them, or accept the smart meter against your request. It can be cut and pasted from this page into your own email, or from the download at the bottom. E-mail addresses for Cc are also at the bottom of the letter.

Also available: ALERT: LETTER OF NON-CONSENT FOR HYDRO (SMART METER)

smartmeters@bchydro.com and info.utilities@corix.com

BC Hydro Smart Meter Specialist Department Date:___________________

6911 Southpoint Drive,

Burnaby, B.C. V3N 4X8

Attention: Mr. Charles Reid, Mr. Gary Murphy, Ms. Cindy Verschoor, BC Hydro, Corix Utilities and /or assignees thereof:

Dear Messrs. Reid, Murphy, Ms. Verschoor, BC Hydro Smart Meter Team, and Corix Utilities:

Re: B.C. Hydro Account # _________ Address: ___________________________________________

I wrote to B.C. Hydro to give clear notice that I am refusing to allow the installation of a Wireless "Smart Meter" on my property. I made it clear in my communication that I am refusing to have my privacy rights violated. I also made it clear that my decision to refuse a Wireless Smart Meter is also to protect my health and the health of my family.

You wrote back on behalf of B.C. Hydro, which serves as an acknowledgement of B.C. Hydro's receipt of my notice of refusal.

In your reply you create fictitious hoops for me to jump through to exercise my rights. You make it clear that I must fill out a form and meet with a B.C. Hydro representative, and if I do not, my current meter will be exchanged with a Wireless Smart Meter. Therefore, you are saying that I must comply with the conditions created in your letter before I can exercise: my right to privacy, my right to protect my health and the health of my family and my property rights.

There is no basis in law for nullifying a clear and unambiguous exercise of rights by imposing fictitious conditions that do not exist in law.

CONTRARY TO YOUR ASSERTIONS, ANY FAILURE OR REFUSAL BY ME TO ENGAGE IN CONSULTATION WITH B.C. HYDRO OR ITS AGENTS CANNOT AND WILL NOT REVOKE OR NULLIFY MY REFUSAL OF CONSENT TO THE INSTALLATION OF A WIRELESS SMART METER ON MY PROPERTY OR PREMISES.

The B.C. Hydro Smart Metering Program and your letter raise some very troubling ethical issues. Electricity is an essential service that we cannot live without. We have only one electricity provider and so are locked into this essential service. Now the sole provider is imposing, without consent, Wireless Smart Meters in our homes, workplaces and neighbourhoods. I have the following questions for B.C. Hydro:

1. Why do the residents of B.C. have no say in whether they want to protect their privacy by refusing to allow devices that disclose personal details, such as their electricity use patterns; information the police currently need a warrant to obtain?

2.     We, who have written to B.C. Hydro refusing Wireless Smart Meters, are legitimately concerned about the potential health consequences of the manmade, pulsed microwave radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation emitted by these devices. Have we reached a time in B.C. when individuals, in an effort to protect their personal health and the health of their families, can no longer choose to avoid perceived dangers in their very homes?

3.     Are we at a place in B.C. where we have no choice but to allow our neighbourhoods to be contaminated by manmade, pulsed microwave radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation emitting constantly at street level from multiple Wireless Smart Meters and wireless infrastructure; to have no choice but to have our children play in streets and communities where their little bodies are subjected to a soup of manmade, pulsed microwave radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation which we believe poses health risks and concerns us greatly as parents and caring people?

4.     B.C. Hydro is a monopoly, owned by the public. Is it appropriate for corporations like BC Hydro to impose fictitious conditions on customers who wish to register refusal of a new Wireless Smart Meter? Is it appropriate for our utility company to intimidate customers in attempts to force them to forego their rights to health, privacy and the welfare of their families?

5.     What law or regulation gives B.C. Hydro the right to place a two-way radiofrequency telecommunications device on my home without my permission?

The B.C. Clean Energy Act is being touted as a the authority for B.C. Hydro to install Smart Meters. Nowhere in that Act or the regulations is there any mandate to install Wireless Smart Meters. There is no reason that B.C. cannot provide its citizens with Wired Smart Meters, as do Idaho or Italy. The B.C. Government has not mandated Wireless Smart Meters in its legislation or in its regulations. That arbitrary decision is being forced on every B.C. household and business without authority.

I insist that B.C. Hydro reconsider its Wireless Smart Metering Program. Fair and reasonable accommodation, without undue financial costs and penalties, must be made for those who, like me, will not allow a Wireless Smart Meter to be installed. I am not willing to meet with B.C. Hydro, in part because I am worried about being intimidated and not taken seriously.

Executive members of the Coalition to Stop Smart Meters are willing to meet with B.C. Hydro on my behalf to address my concerns.

If you would like to set up an appointment to meet with these representatives, please send written notice of such request to Sharon Noble at dsnoble@shaw.ca and Una St. Clair at una@citizensforsfetechnology.org with a copy to me. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Full Name

Full address

Copy (Cc) to

Corix Utilities, Liberal BC Leader Christy Clark, Minister of Energy Rich Coleman, NDP Energy Critic John Horgan, BC Chief Medical Officer Perry Kendall, NDP Deputy Health Critic Sue Hammell, Green Party Federal Leader Elizabeth May, Minister of Health, Mike de Jong, NDP Health Critic Mike Farnworth, NDP BC Leader Adrian Dix, Green Party BC Leader Jane Sterk

info.utilities@corix.com, premier@gov.bc.ca, rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca, john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca, perry.kendall@gov.bc.ca, sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca, elizabeth.may@greenparty.ca, mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca, mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca, adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca, leader@greenparty.bc.ca

Copy also to your local Mayor and Council

Feb 18
2012

This sign is designed to be mounted on or beside your non-wireless, analogue meter, if you are lucky enough to still have one. There is a line on which to print the address of the building in question. Also a welcome at the bottom for the analogue meter reader:

N.B. Do not forget to write your name and address onto this no trespassing sign, and the date you posted it. If you don't do that, Corix may rip it down and proceed with the installation. A photo of the meter with the sign is also a good idea . . .

ATTENTION CORIX
Smart Meter Installer for BC HYDRO
NO TRESPASSING
DO NOT INSTALL SMART METER HERE

THIS IS NOTICE OF MY REFUSAL TO ACCEPT A SMART METER AT THIS ADDRESS

Many people are taking the step of "enclosing" their analogue meters, protecting them from removal, while still making sure that the necessary ID tags and consumption information remain clearly visible and intact.

Feb 18
2012

IMPORTANT:

RIGHT AWAY, to keep your analogue meter (if you are lucky enough to still have one . . .), even before you send the following letter, post the
NO TRESPASSING SIGN and/or COPE STOP SIGN, or other visible deterrent for Corix, Hydro's official installer. Write your address and your name on the sign, along with the date. Secure it beside your meter AND on your front door. A photo would also help to prove it was there . . .

Hydro claims they will respect letters and signs for the time being, but very often the Corix installer is not doing so . . .

Also: DO NOT PHONE BC HYDRO to refuse a Smart Meter. This is no longer a wise use of your time, as Hydro simply uses it as an opportunity to promote their Smart Meter Program or convince you that you have no choice.

You do have a choice.

To register refusal of a B.C. Hydro wireless Smart Meter, the following letter is useful. It is not guaranteed that B.C. Hydro will not install, but it eliminates the "implied consent" argument that they are using to justify the installation of the meters without notification or permission.

It is recommended that you keep copies for your files, and perhaps post one by your meter.

send Via electronic mail to: smartmeters@bchydro.com and info.utilities@corix.com

Also via Canada Post to: BC Hydro,

Smart Meter Specialist Department

6911 Southpoint Drive, Burnaby BC, V3N 4X8

Attention B.C. Hydro, Corix Utilities and agents and/or assignees thereof:

Re: Refusal of Smart Meter on my Residence / Workplace

Dated: _______________, 201__ B.C. Hydro Account # on bill_____________

Address: ___________________________________________________________

Please accept this as your official notice from this date forward of my absolute refusal to allow the installation of a wireless Smart Meter on my home or premises at

full address _______________________________________________________________

Take notice that B.C. Hydro, Corix Utilities and /or agents and assignees thereof do not have my authorization, permission or consent to enter my property, business or premises for the purpose of replacing my current meter with a wireless Smart Meter.

Any attempt to install this device on my property or residence will constitute trespass and a violation of rights afforded to me as a citizen of Canada.

I refuse your wireless Smart Meter on the grounds that it has the capability of being a surveillance system, used by you or other parties, which could violate my right to privacy.

Also: my fundamental democratic right to protect my health from a possible carcinogen, specifically radiofrequency electromagnetic fields emitted by your wireless Smart Meter, supersedes any right you have to install a wireless Smart Meter on my property.

You still have authorization to attend at my property for the purpose of reading the non-wireless meter manually

Name in full ________________________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________________________

Copy (Cc) to

Liberal BC Leader Christy Clark, Minister of Energy Rich Coleman, NDP Energy Critic John Horgan, BC Chief Medical Officer Perry Kendall, NDP Deputy Health Critic Sue Hammell, Green Party Federal Leader Elizabeth May, Minister of Health, Mike de Jong, NDP Health Critic Mike Farnworth, NDP BC Leader Adrian Dix, Green Party BC Leader Jane Sterk, BCRefed Leader Ingrid Voigt

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

This letter format can be accessed, downloaded, cut and pasted into your own email from:citizensforsafetechnology.org (Smart Meter Action Kit under "Letter Alert!")

Feb 17
2012

"Concerns about microwave radiation related to Wi-Fi usage in schools has many parents asking questions regarding long term effects on their children's health.

"Wireless sensitivity is like a peanut allergy you can't see.

"For the people who have it, it's hell. But for everybody else, you're just ruining a really good sandwich.

"And, until 45,000 teachers brought it back to the forefront Monday, most had dismissed the effects of invisible airwaves outright.

"However, the recent outcry by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA) to shelve the usage of Wi-Fi in schools pending more research into wireless technology is causing headaches for many administrators. Much like the headaches, dizziness, nausea, vertigo, racing heart, memory loss and skin rash that parents of children who attend school with Wi- Fi available are claiming their children suffer.

"Parents of children at Mountainview have been very vocal about the issue, after several children exhibited similiar symptoms. However, the board has resisted calls to remove the school's Wi- Fi system.

"The Catholic teachers' call for a moratorium on wireless Internet follows a warning from the World Health Organization in May. The WHO's cancer centre called for more research into the potential dangers of Wi-Fi, noting all radiation from wireless devices could be carcinogenic . . .

Rationale for the Workplace

Feb 17
2012

Wednesday, February 29th is Anti-Bullying Day.
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Your local BC Hydro Office or Service Centre

Christy Clark says "The only way we will defeat bullying is if we stand together united and say, "No matter who you are, no matter what side of the aisle you may sit on, bullying is not acceptable."

To find information in your area, contact stopsmartmetersbc@gmail.com or find us on Facebook (Stop Smart Meters in BC)

http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2011/11/24/clark-on-verge-of-province-wide-anti-bullying-plan/

Feb 16
2012

Stop Smart Meters Press Conference at BC Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Perry Kendall's office.

Press Conference (Steve Satow) 1 of 3
Tammy Jeske (2 of 3)

Feb 16
2012

Smart Meter Moratorium Motion Tally List
Current Tally: 32

Congratulations and welcome, Maple Ridge, #32!
news report

For links to help organize your own delegation request for a moratorium in your community, begin here.

A growing number of responsive and proactive B.C. Municipal and City Councils are passing motions for moratoriums on mandatory installation of B.C. Hydro's wireless "Smart" Meters as follows:

"According to Bill 23-2008 of the British Columbia Public Health Act, section 83

(1) a municipality must take action when it learns of something that could be harmful to its residents. It must notify the Minister of Health or take immediate action. At its June 27 Council meeting, the City of Colwood, B.C. passed a motion to write to the Minister of Health and, due to the potential for wireless smart meters to cause harm or to compromise security, request a moratorium on mandatory installations of wireless meters. The Council also requested that concerned residents be offered safer alternatives at no cost to them."

B.C. Councils who have considered the above request, and voted in favour of it:

Alert Bay
Central Saanich
Colwood
District of Highlands
Duncan
Invermere
Islands Trust (Gulf Islands and Bowen Island)
Ladysmith
Lake Cowichan
Langley Township
Maple Ridge
Merritt
Metchosin
Nanaimo
New Denver
North Cowichan
North Saanich
North Vancouver City
Oliver
Parksville
Powell River
Qualicum Beach
Regional District of Nanaimo
Richmond
Saanich District
Sechelt
Silverton
Sunshine Coast Regional District
Surrey
Tofino
Victoria
White Rock

To be continued . . .

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Events Calendar

Meetings and events on the issue of wireless technologies in homes and communities throughout North America.

Wi-Fi petition

Click the button above to sign our online petition to return to hardwired computers in schools.

Smart Meter petition

Click the button above to sign our online petition against Smart Meters in British Columbia.

Smart Meter Petition (Hard Copy)

Download and print this petition form -- Refuse Smart Meter Installation.

Send completed petitions 15 signatures per page to:
Una St. Clair

fax:
1-866-824-8865

e-mail: una@citizensforsafetechnology.org

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