We CAN SAY NO to Smart Meters **SPREAD THE WORD**

[Lampshade]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

We have A/C for our house, and the biggest draw on that is in the evening in the summer. The back (kitchen and family room, and master bedroom upstairs) faces the northwest, so worst possible scenario if they bring this in. However, if we can see our electricity draw over a day, or better yet in real time, on our computers, then we still have a chance to manage it, and minimize those costs. Our house is fairly large, so retains its heat (and coolness) for quite some time. Maybe we can cool it a few degrees extra, just before the higher cost time kicks in.

We also have a hot tub that runs all winter, and we could set a timer to shut that off at peak times (unless we are using it).

In the end we all have to pay for whatever BC Hydro costs are (since they aren't allow to make a profit). So if this allows them to lower their costs, and reduce the amounts of electricity they have to buy at peak times from Alberta (yes, BC is a net importer of electricity), then I am all for it.

There's lots of systems that automatically do that. In Europe they pay $0.35kW/h and up, it is very common there to have appliances with delayed starts, like washer/dryer/dishwasher. They also have electric water heaters that will let the water cool off a few degrees during peak pay periods, same with furnaces, fridges, etc. Over here it would probably cost more to implement those things than you would save, but there are options for it.

[Reef Pilot]

Well, by the time they bring this in here (will be a tough political battle first), maybe I will have a honking large controller for my reef stuff that I can also use to run my house.

[reefermadness]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

Well, by the time they bring this in here (will be a tough political battle first), maybe I will have a honking large controller for my reef stuff that I can also use to run my house.

There is no political battle....they want to ...they do. There is no law or legislation needed to add a smart meter and TOU billing. Most people wont make too much noise ...if you do you may delay the inevitable....but it is inevitable.

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by reefermadness

There is no political battle....they want to ...they do. There is no law or legislation needed to add a smart meter and TOU billing. Most people wont make too much noise ...if you do you may delay the inevitable....but it is inevitable.

Hah,... You don't know BC. The media will team up with Vanderzalm, and they can stop (or reverse) anything here...., just to prove they are really in charge. It doesn't matter if it is good or bad for us.

[reefermadness]

no...all im saying is its the future. Electricity production doesnt happen instantly on demand. TOU makes sense and every electicity meter in the world will be TOU smart meter eventual....that and its green. So stick your heels in all you want but eventually you will have no choice.

[Lampshade]

according to the hydro site:

BC Hydro will not be implementing time-of-use rates because we don't need them.

Time-of-use rates are used in jurisdictions with peak demand that exceeds the utility's ability to supply electricity to its customers. They have to buy expensive electricity in order to meet that peak demand. This is very important in jurisdictions that rely on coal or fossil fuels to generate electricity.

In British Columbia, we are fortunate to have a flexible electricity system that is 94 per cent hydro generation, where water flow can be adjusted to match supply and demand as needed. We are also addressing future capacity constraints through expansions to existing infrastructure, such as Mica 5 and 6 and our Integrated Resources Plan.



This is very true, in most places, electricity production doesn't happen instantly on demand, in BC, it does.

[reefermadness]

I didnt realize so much of your electricity was true hydro generation. Maybe your right. I wonder if they would ever have a different rate for different seasons were water flow might cause problems?

I think all provinces and states have bordering grid connections where they can pick up or sell off electricity depending on capacities. IF the electricity is there....why waste it.

Most places need to utilize always on technologies like nuclear, hydro and than comes coal, gas which can be better controlled. But as we move to even more unreliable and intermittent technologies which are the green solar panels and wind turbines.....TOU becomes important.

Anyway....smart meters are used for much more than just TOU.