Esquimalt on board with push for second look at smart meters
by Erin McCracken – Victoria News August 19, 2011
Esquimalt council will be putting B.C. Hydro’s wireless meters under the microscope after several residents expressed their concerns over the technology.
Their appeal at last week’s council meeting included a request that council join 10 municipalities across B.C. in asking the province to put the breaks on B.C. Hydro’s installation of smart meters on residences and businesses in the Capital Region – a process that began earlier this month.
To date, 1,600 Wi-Fi meters have been installed – technology the utility company says will help consumers save up to 15 per cent on the cost of their bill and improve reliability as well as safety for hydro workers.
“(B.C. is) one of the largest consumers of electricity in the world so we have a lot to do,” said Ted Olynyk, B.C. Hydro community relations manager for Vancouver Island. “There’s a lot of opportunity for us to conserve.”
But a moratorium is needed to allow more time to investigate the technology’s health impacts and identify a safe alternative, said Sharon Noble, Colwood resident and organizer of Citizens Against Un-Safe Transmissions.
“Municipal governments have the duty to advise the (provincial) Ministry of Health of any health dangers that has been brought to your attention,” Noble told council.
Her group believes the technology emits carcinogenic electromagnetic radiation, but Olynyk said their fears are unfounded.
“If you’re waiting for your coffee and it’s a Wi-Fi (coffee) shop and it takes four minutes, you would have already been exposed to one year’s worth of a smart meter signal, provided you would have been standing by the smart meter every time it sent a signal every day,” Olynyk said.
Esquimalt council requested that township staff organize a presentation involving a cross-section of experts who can weigh in on the smart meter debate, including those from B.C. Hydro, the Vancouver Island Health Authority, B.C.’s Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, and possibly scientists with expertise in electromagnetic radiation.
“(These emissions are) a reality, but we don’t know enough about it,” said Mayor Barb Desjardins. “We need to hear why the government feels the need to move on this decision.
“It can’t just be a gut feeling.”
The presentation date will be announced on www.esquimalt.ca.
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/saanichnews/news/128080568.html
#1 by Mia Nony on August 19, 2011 - 7:27 pm
Google Barry Trower. He is the man who designed these dangerous frequencies for military use as a weapon of mass destruction. He also came back out of retirement to serve as a key expert witness in the Oregon trial now unfolding regarding the dangers of Wifi, etc..
Health Canada’s Safety Code Six acknowledges that this is an illegal use of frequency in any public and/or domestic application.
#2 by bernadette slosmanis on August 27, 2011 - 1:39 pm
Even though I called BC Hydro & said not to install a SmartMeter at my house, they installed an Itron Centron meter & removed the old one even though there’s a sign saying NOT to remove. There was an article in the PG Citizen a week ago last Friday about this. I called BC Hydro & asked them to remove the Itron Centron meter & Corey Meter Installations said it’s mandatory.
Spread the word around. Wake up PG Municipality. Wake up Christie Clark. Wake up the MLAs. They act as if they’re working for BC Hydro. Not a peep out of any of them. Why are they so silent?!!!
#3 by bernadette slosmanis on August 27, 2011 - 1:42 pm
I reiterate what I said above.
PG Citizen, PG City Hall Councillors, Christie Clark, the MLAs
have not said a word in spite of all the protests against SmartMeters that are going on.
Why are they so silent?!! Democracy?!! Principles?!! out the window….
#4 by Steve Poole on September 9, 2011 - 11:45 pm
Olynyk’s arguments are nonsensical and strictly PR deception. Firstly, conservation doesn’t need to be imposed technologically. We can all CONSERVE if we decide to do so — willfully with moral purpose. In other words, BC Hydro should try education instead of enforcement. Secondly, Olynyk makes reference to Wi-Fi and cell phones and their EMR output. I personally don’t patronize establishments that provide Wi-Fi and I DON’T have a cell phone — out of personal choice — to avoid potential harm. In doing so, I can mitigate or avoid my exposure to said EMR. Additionally, my house has NO Wi-Fi devices whatsoever. It has been tested and is deemed a low-EMR zone. Therefore, why should Olynyk’s bogus rationale be used to force upon me and my property an unwanted technology that I have made such conscious efforts to avoid?