[StirCrazy]

Ok so I was home when they came calling and I said they could not install the smart meters on either of my two meters untill I have more information. (you have to be home to tell them leaving a note doesn't work)

my issue isn't the rf, but some other concerns that have been brought up in the US and here.

there are several California cites now that are removing smart meters and the list is growing larger as time goes on. there are 4 cites in BC that have brought in a moratorium on smart meters.

what are my issues, I'll tell you.

the first is simple money. BC hydro is spending how much on this program? I'll tell you that they claim 1.6 billion. why would a company invest that much if it isn't going to give them a return. they wouldn't and if they don't go to time of day billing then they would never recover any of that money. they would have made more staying with the old meters.

so yes you are going to be paying more for hydro, they just haven't told you yet. anyone in a hot part of BC will be screwed, guess what.. you AC is the biggest electrical use and it runs mostly during prime time.

we have had a step rate for a few years now and what did BC hydro do 1 year after they got permission to institute stepped rates, they raised it. the first year we saved 10 bucks a month, the second we ended up paying an average of 10 more.. so it was a bait and switch.

so even though BC hydro isn't talking about time of day billing right now you can be assured as soon as the smart meter program is finished they will.

and yes crown cooperations can make money, the profit goes into the government coffers and they say they are using it to keep our taxes down.. or so they can keep spending more with out us complaining about increases in taxes.

so enough about money, my second biggest reason (and the reason for cites in the US removing them) is the invasion of privacy, smart meters can be hacked, and people in the US have hacked them to decrease there bills or the latest one would be thieves have been using hacks to learn traffic patterens of houses they intend to rob, this way they don't have to sit outside and watch. they can stalk multiple houses at once from there home and just pull up when they house is empty. and because the smart meters set up a network from meter to meter they can be across town and do this.

and finally my biggest reason, anyone ever thought about how many unionized workers are going to be put out of work when this is done.
right from BC hydro, we are unsure of how many of the remaining 300 meter readers will be affected by this program. so instead of coming out and saying all, because face it there are no meters to read as they will all be reporting through the network they create, they just say we are unsure, and say it will create jobs....

the simple fact is the government wants more money to spend and is looking for other ways to increase there pots with out direct tax raises, so they go about it indirectly.. by getting crown corp's to raise rates, or add user fees (ferries and fuel sir taxes) ect...

sorry about the rant but I am just getting tired of creative taxing, and the gov ramming there agendas down out throats using companies that the public owners. look at gov contracts they are on a zero mandate again this year, but yet they increase cpp, UI, and pension contributions while giving a worker a raise of 0 and wonder why people are getting deeper in debt. BC ferries is another one, they have made money every year but yet they still need to raise rates.

Steve