http://coscobc.ca/heads-they-win-tails-we-lose/

“Heads they win, tails we lose”‏

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE COSCO NEWS

MARCH 26 2011

BC HYDRO SMART METER NUMBER-PLAY EXPOSED
A lawyer representing BC Hydro customers has accused BC Hydro of talking out of both sides of its mouth when it comes to the billion-dollar “Smart Meter” program.
“Last year, BC Hydro claimed that smart meters would stop $20 to $30 million a year of electricity thefts by marijuana grow-ops,” said Jim Quail, Executive Director of the BC Public Interest Advocacy Centre. “They did not offer any evidence that these numbers were correct.”
BC Hydro’s estimate of annual electricity theft took a huge leap when the Crown-owned utility presented its business case, which seeks to show the huge investment in computerized meters is justified.
“Suddenly they were claiming that they are losing $100 million a year to grow-op power thefts,” said Quail, “and still they refused to back this up with evidence.”
Quail noted that if this number is correct, customers should see a $100 million decrease in Hydro’s total rates when the meters come into service. Instead, BC Hydro’s application to the Utilities Commission for three years in a row of rate increases of approximately 10% a year, only shows theft savings of $20.7 million when the meters become operational.
“They give us a huge, unsubstantiated number when they want to show the meters are a good idea, but when it comes to identifying real savings, which they can pass on to customers, all they can find is $20.7 million, which is swamped in red ink from the huge cost of buying and installing the meters.”
“It’s heads they win, tails we lose,” said Quail. Their facts seem to change depending on what is advantageous to the company.”
Quail called on Rich Coleman, the new Energy Minister, to order BC Hydro to abandon the program. “Someone has to tell Hydro to stop signing contracts and kill smart metering.”
for more information please contact Jim Quail at (604) 687-3063 [email protected]

COSCO BC Contact Information
President: Sylvia MacLeay
Telephone: (604) 921 7823
Email: [email protected]

Vice-President: Gudrun Langolf
Telephone: (604) 266 7199
Email: [email protected]