Smart meters have failed, melted and caused fires in British Columbia. While BC Hydro continues to deny that these devices pose risk of fires, Underwriters Laboratory admits it in its introduction of a “voluntary” standard:
“… design flaws in smart meter units have been known to cause serious fire hazards and spotty performance. This has caused a lot of concern for utilities and manufacturers of smart meters.”
It is doubtful that the “voluntary” certification will address all of the fire-causing features of these devices which are mandated by the BC Liberals for every home and business. For example, legal testimony in Texas stated that the smart meters do not fit properly into the meter base, a base that was certified to hold an analog and nothing else. The smart meters’ blades leave a gap which causes arcing and fires.
“Childers explained that part of the problem was a loose connection between the meter and the meter base because the smart meters had thinner “blades” than the previous analog meters. (JD slip op. at 12, LL 36-38; Tr. 265, LL. 3-6). Childers told Reed that the loose connection caused heat, which, in turn, caused an electrical arc, which resulted in “two pallets of burned up meters” in CenterPoint’s meter shop. (Tr. 265, LL. 13-22).”
( http://www.stopsmartmetersbc.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Reed_Answering_Brief-1.pdf pg. 8)
The meters used by Houston’s CenterPoint Utility are the very same model, ITRON Openway, used by BC Hydro and FortisBC.
(https://www.itron.com/na/newsAndEvents/Pages/CenterPoint-Energy-Completes-Itron-Smart-Meter-Roll-Out.aspx )
Months ago BC Utilities Commission (BCUC), BC Hydro, Energy Minister Bill Bennett, and BC Hydro critic Adrian Dix were given this information and more, yet these fire hazards remain on our homes.
What more is needed to have these meters declared defective? Why are the BC Liberals, the BCUC, and the utility companies playing Russian roulette with our safety?
UL Announces New Safety Programs to Facilitate Adoption of Smart Meters
UL (Underwriters Laboratories) a global safety science leader, announced today the launch of two new safety services designed to facilitate and accelerate the adoption of smart meters. In cooperation with leading US utilities and smart meter manufacturers, and in response to numerous smart meter safety concerns from consumers and regulators, UL has established both product safety certification services for smart meter manufacturers and product safety testing services for smart meter users.
UL offers Smart Meter safety services for manufacturers and users
NORTHBROOK, Ill., Jan. 27, 2014 – UL (Underwriters Laboratories) a global safety science leader, announced today the launch of two new safety services designed to facilitate and accelerate the adoption of smart meters. In cooperation with leading US utilities and smart meter manufacturers, and in response to numerous smart meter safety concerns from consumers and regulators, UL has established both product safety certification services for smart meter manufacturers and product safety testing services for smart meter users.
Earlier this year, UL published the Standard for Safety for Electric Utility Meters, UL2735. This standard contains requirements for the electric shock, fire, mechanical and radio-frequency (RF) emissions safety aspects of all electric utility meters, including smart meters, and is the foundation for both the UL product safety certification service and the product safety testing service.
“The safety standard, the safety certification and safety testing programs are all now in place. As a direct result of having all three, UL is uniquely poised to immediately help smart meter manufacturers and users address the product safety concerns of both regulators and consumers,” notes Lisa Salley, Vice President and GM – Energy and Industrial Systems, UL. “We don’t take lightly the trust and confidence that leading smart meter manufacturers and utilities have placed in us. We are absolutely committed as partners.”
UL’s product safety certification service enables manufactures of smart meters to apply the UL certification mark to smart meters that are determined to be in compliance with the requirements of UL2735. The UL certification mark is trusted by more consumers in North America than any other safety mark and signals a commitment to safety for both the smart meter manufacturer and the installing utility.
UL has issued the first smart meter safety certification to a leading manufacturer and a complete list of certified smart meters can be found in UL’s online certification directory at UL.com.
UL’s product safety testing service enables utilities and other users of smart meters to demonstrate their commitment to safety when a UL certified meter is not available. UL has already completed product safety testing of smart meters for a number of leading utilities.
“This service is especially useful for utilities that have either begun or completed their smart meter deployment,” states Salley. “Each utility has the option to customize the test program.” UL will test the specific smart meters employed by the utility to the testing requirements of UL2735 and provide a detailed report of the findings. Customized test programs can include any additional testing that is relevant to their specific installations.
To learn more about UL’s smart meter program, visit http://industries.ul.com/smart-meters. For business inquiries, contact Bill Colavecchio ([email protected]).
About UL
UL is a premier global independent safety science company that has championed progress for 120 years. Its more than 10,000 professionals are guided by the UL mission to promote safe working and living environments for all people. UL uses research and standards to continually advance and meet ever-evolving safety needs. We partner with businesses, manufacturers, trade associations and international regulatory authorities to bring solutions to a more complex global supply chain. For more information about our certification, testing, inspection, advisory and education services, visit http://www.ul.com/.
http://ulstandards.ul.com/standard/?id=2735
UL 2735
Standard for Electric Utility Meters
1.1 These requirements cover the electrical safety of electric utility (revenue) meters rated up to 600 V, which measure, monitor, record, transmit, or receive electrical energy generation or consumption information.
1.2 Meters covered by this standard may be provided with one or two-way communication capabilities, by means of carrier signals, telephone, cable, wireless communication, or other methods.
1.3 These meters may additionally provide signals, either by direct connection or wirelessly, for the control of electrical loads or electrical power generation equipment in response to signals received from the utility or local communication networks.
1.4 These requirements cover socket mounted plug-in (Type S) utility meters, and non-socket mounted, bottom connected (Type A) utility meters, intended for installation in ordinary (non-classified) locations. These may or may not be intended to be under the exclusive control of the serving utility.
1.5 These requirements also cover revenue meters that are not socket mounted (Type S) or bottom connected (Type A) meters, including those that are intended for factory installation as components within the enclosure of complete equipment.
1.6 These requirements do not cover equipment intended as test equipment or equipment intended to make measurements for analysis in a laboratory or industrial setting.
