Smart Meters: A New Environmental Battleground

Written by Harold McNeill on February 2nd, 2013. Posted in Editorials


Note: Times Colonist, February 3, 2013.  Smart Meter foes fume at Coleman   Updated comments in the footer.

Note:  A copy of the following letter, purported to have been circulated by the President and CEO of BC Hydro, was sent to me by an anonymous source. I accepted and reproduced it at face value. Is it possible someone was spoofing me?

Victoria, BC

January 25, 2013

Re: Refusal to Allow Smart Installation

Dear Mary Beth and James,

We at BC Hydro appreciate your ongoing concern about the Smart Meter program and we realize considerable conflicting information is floating around about whether BC Hydro and the Government will make the final installations mandatory. You must realize that with over 95% of the meters now installed, we are in so deep there is no turning back.

We understand that you and the others have given as a your primary reason for refusing to allow installation, some perceived health dangers posed by the technology. As this technology comes at a cost of some $1,000,000,000 of taxpayers dollars, you can rest assured we did a fair amount of research with your money.

To help resolve your situation, we are providing you and the other 84,999 homeowners who think as you do, an opportunity to justify your refusal.

In order to determine your eligibility for this exemption, please answer the following questions truthfully and to the best of your knowlege:

HAVE YOU EVER used a cell phone, wireless phone, wireless internet connection, wireless router, baby monitor, garage door opener, video game, walkie-talkie, car radio, GPS, satellite TV receiver, wireless home security system, microwave oven or other wireless or microwave device in your home? Have you ever sat in front of a monitor using cathode ray technology?

HAVE YOU EVER ever travelled by land, sea or air to a destination where you were required to submit to a search using an electronic body scanning system?

HAVE YOU EVER had an x-ray of any kind (including dental work), or were you ever admintted to a modern hospital where wireless electronic devices are wide use?

HAVE YOU EVER gone out in the summer sun without wearing a long sleeved shirt, full length pants or skirt, and wearing a wide brimmed hat? If you went swimming, did you wear a full body bathing suit and head protection?

HAVE YOU EVER purchased any food that was subjected to radiation, was genetically modified or contained a preservative, or have you eaten any food from a source that may have been contaminated by contact with water, air or soil that may have been irradiated or subjected to chemical treatment?

HAVE YOU EVER riden in a car or motorcycle, rode a bicyle, traveled in an airplane or ship or walked along a public street in a busy downtown area?

HAVE YOU EVER drank an alcoholic beverage, smoked a cigarette or used drugs of some form (legal or illegal)?

If we are satisfied that you and your family have managed to avoid the majority of these perceived dangers to your health, BC Hydro will consider exampting you from the Smart Meter program.

This exemption will be given on the compassionate ground that you and your family are living such fear-filled, joyless lives it would be totally unfair of Hydro to impose the additional stress created by having a Smart Meter attached to the side of your home.

However, before giving our final assurance, we await further direction from the Minister of Energy and Mines, Rich Coleman, who seems, at this moment at least, a little conflicted about which direction he should jump.

We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

Charles Reid
President and CEO
BC Hydro

c/c   Honourable Kristy Clarke, Premier of BC
Honourable Rich Coleman, Minister of Energy and Mines

Footnote:

While most concerns regarding Smart Meters seem to focus on the health aspects, the real story, in my opinion, is about the cost.  The one billion dollar up front costs in BC will be paid entirely by tax payers, as will all furture costs. Will it lead to efficencies? Some studies suggest future cost saving by home owners will be minimal.  When dealing with an essential consumer product such as hydro, it makes little difference as it is always the same pocket, the consumer.

The largest rollout of Smart Meters was in Europe were a total of 39,000,000 installations were complete by the end of 2008. Opponents in Europe focussed more on the cost and only time will tell if smart meters provide significant efficiencies.

In British Columbia, contrary to Europe, complaints by the majority of the 85,000 holdouts focus on ‘health concerns’. This might be described as something of a ‘tempest in a teapot’ given the majority of those same households will likely have more electronic and microwave gadgets installed in their home, car and cottage than at any other geographical location on the globe.

In that sense, resistence to Smart Meters is no different than the resistence to cars, airplanes, gas street light, electricity, microwave ovens, radio, tv sets and a million other innovations over the history of mankind.  It seems people do not take kindly to change.

As a very conservative friend is fond of saying:  “Harold, if I was running things, we would still be living in caves.”

Oh well, an issue that seem’s silly to one person is likely close to the heart of another.

Harold
February 3, 2012

Times Colonist Friday, July 12, 2013. 60,00 people given and exemption link here:  B.C. Allows smart meter alternatives

Times Colonist, February 3, 2013.  Smart Meter foes fume at Coleman 

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Comments (1)

  • Harold McNeill
    May 26, 2013 at 1:46 pm |

    Checking out the comment section on the new WordPress Blog.

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Comments

  • Mike Fedorowich

    September 1, 2023 |

    I have gone through the above noted text and have found it quite informative.
    I am a former member with several law enforcement agencies from across Canada.
    I worked in the First Nations service under the authority of the RCMP with the over sight of the OPP. My law enforcement service was conducted under the authority of the Nishnawbe – Aski Police Service in North West Ontario the Louis Bull Police Sevice in Hobbema AB, the Kitasoo Xaixais Police Service in Northern in side passage on Swindle Island, the Lac Suel Police Service North West Ontario and the Vancouver Transit Authority Sky Train Police Service. I’m presently dealing with an RCMP member for falsifying a report against me for a road rage event. Court case is finished and the charge was dropped but I have an on going complaint with the member and have forwarded to the WATCH DOGS IN OTTAWA FOR the RCMP review and consideration. I believe the said officer is in violation of his oath of office and should be held accountable for falsifying his RTCC all the while dragging me through the court system here in Nanaimo. RCMP continue to stonewall the appeal but Ottawa and the crowns office are still looking into the matter. if your able and find the time or the interest in this very brief introduction, I would very much like to speak with you and would be grateful to hear any wisdom that may come across from your end. I served with First Nations Police Services for ten years in isolation and six years with Transit Police out of New West Minster. I do value and appreciate any time you could spare to chat for a bit on this particular subject matter. Respectfully with out anger but an open mind, Mike Fedorowich Nanaimo BC 250 667 0060

  • Harold McNeill

    February 28, 2022 |

    Hi Robert, I do remember some of those folks from my early years in Cold Lake (Hazel was my aunt and our family spent many fond times with Uncle Melvin, Aunt Hazel and Family. I knew Lawrence and Adrian. Having read a half dozen accounts it is clear their were many false narratives and, perhaps, a few truths along the way. I tried my best to provide an even account from what I read. Cheers, Harold. (email: Harold@mcneillifestories.com)

  • Robert Martineau

    February 25, 2022 |

    Its been a long time since any post here, but its worth a shot. My Grandfather was Hazel Wheelers brother Lawrence, and son to Maggie and Adrien. Maggie Martineau (nee Delaney) is my great grandmother. The books and articles to date are based on the white mans viewpoint and the real story as passed down by the Elders in my family is much more nefarious. Some of the white men were providing food for the Indians in exchange for sexual favors performed by the Squaws. Maggie was the product of one of those encounters. Although I am extremely proud of my family and family name, I am ashamed about this part of it.

  • Julue

    January 28, 2022 |

    Good morning Harold!
    Gosh darn it, you are such a good writer. I hope you have been writing a book about your life. It could be turned into a movie.
    Thanks for this edition to your blog.
    I pray that Canadians will keep their cool this weekend and next week in Ottawa. How do you see our PM handling it? He has to do something and quick!
    Xo Julie

  • Herb Craig

    December 14, 2021 |

    As always awesome job Harold. It seems whatever you do in life the end result is always the same professional, accurate, inclusive and entertaining. You have always been a class act and a great fellow policeman to work with. We had some awesome times together my friend. I will always hold you close as a true friend. Keep up the good work. Hope to see you this summer.
    Warm regards
    Herb Craig

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Hi Dorthy, So glad you found those stories and, yes, they hold many fond memories. Thanks to social media and the blog, I’ve been able to get in touch with many friends from back in the day. Cheers, Harold

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Well, well. Pleased to see your name pop up. I’m in regular contact via FB with many ‘kids’ from back in our HS days (Guy, Dawna, Shirley and others). Also, a lot of Cold Lake friends through FB. Cheers, Harold

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Oh, that is many years back and glad you found the story. I don’t have any recall of others in my class other than the Murphy sisters on whose farm my Dad and Mom worked.

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Pleased to hear from you Howie and trust all is going well. As with you, I have a couple of sad stories of times in my police career when I crossed paths with Ross Barrington Elworthy. Just haven’t had the time to write those stories.

  • Howie Siegel

    November 25, 2021 |

    My only fight at Pagliacci’s was a late Sunday night in 1980 (?) He ripped the towel machine off the bathroom wall which brought me running. He came after me, I grabbed a chair and cracked him on the head which split his skull and dropped him. I worried about the police finding him on the floor. I had just arrived from Lasqueti Island and wasn’t convinced the police were my friends. I dragged him out to Broad and Fort and left him on the sidewalk, called the cops. They picked him up and he never saw freedom again (as far as I know). I found out it was Ross Elworthy.