1)   Today in Ottawa C4ST held a press conference to direct attention to the negligence of Health Canada in refusing to update Safety Code 6 to a guideline that reflects current scientific evidence. Several of us were scheduled to make presentations but unfortunately time did not allow it. The press conference can be viewed at www.c4st.org. As well you will find a letter signed by 52 scientists from around the world urging Health Canada to stop denying that evidence exists that shows harm.

http://c4st.org/images/documents/hc-resolutions/scientific-declaration-to-health-canada-english.pdf

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/wireless-radiation-exposure-code-fails-to-protect-canadians-1.1906165

2)   Telus and Rogers are expanding their wireless capability for wifi and as part of the “stupid” grid. Unless a municipality’s council has written an antenna siting consultation policy the companies can put these things on poles or towers less than 15 meters or on existing structures without telling anyone. These transmitters are very close to homes, often outside bedroom windows, and are strong. People need to be aware of this and demand that their municipal councils fight this – and get a consultation policy written.

From a member:   I had a cable guy come over today to replace my non-wifi router.

He told me that Telus has been placing a lot of cell tower type equipment all over the Sunshine Coast on the telephone poles, without any public knowledge or consultation.  We knew they were supposed to be installing fibreoptic cable – but no one said anything about increasing the wifi output!

Apparently no one is supposed to be within 5 meters of these, but they are on the telephone poles all around town, so people are just walking by them.

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Letters:

Sent: July 8, 2014 5:00 PM
To: Smart Meters; Charles.reid@bchydro.com; elizabeth.may@greenparty.ca; info.utilities@corix.com; john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca; Popham.MLA, Lana; Jane Sterk; premier@gov.bc.ca; greg.reimer@bchydro.com
Subject: Re: BC Hydro Smart Metering Department

On behalf of XXX:

Jessica:

You seem confused about whom you are contacting. Regarding the hydro meter at XXXXXXXXXX, you are communicating with the tenant and account holder XXX; SSSS is merely sending the emails on my behalf. Secondly, I will not give you a telephone number as, in accordance with advice from legal counsel, I require that all contact be in writing, either via email to this email address, or regular post, both to ensure clarity and to guarantee that there will be no future misquotation, misinterpretation or prevarication. My uncle and I, as both landlord and tenant, have made our position abundantly clear. We refuse to accept either a smart meter or a digital meter at xxxxxxxx. To reiterate, “Choice” must be available to all rate payers, not just to the select few that managed to survive Hydro’s intimidation during the first round of “smart” meter installations. “Choice” must be available to new tenants. My son and I are protected by Section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees our right to security of the person. Neither BC Hydro nor any other government agency can force me to accept a device, attached to my home, that world-recognized scientists assure me will endanger the physical or psychological health of me and my child. If the current meter at XXXXX. is due to expire, it must be replaced BY APPOINTMENT ONLY by another ANALOG meter only. Failure to make an appointment will result in trespassing charges as NO TRESPASSING signs are clearly posted. Hydro personnel may enter the property without appointment ONLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF READING THE CURRENT METER.

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Dear SSS

Thank you for contacting us regarding BC Hydro’s Smart Metering Program. In order to address your questions and concerns, we need to speak with you on the phone. However, we do not have a current phone number on file for you. Please contact us directly at 1-800-409-8199, or reply to this email with a phone number we can reach you at.

BC Hydro is committed to providing accurate information about the Smart Metering Program, and all current information about the program can be found at bchydro.com/smartmeters.

Sincerely,

Jessica
BC Hydro
Smart Metering Specialist Team
Smart Metering Program
E-mail: smartmeters@bchydro.com
Phone: 1 800 409 8199

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Sent: July 8, 2014 4:25 PM
To: Commission Secretary BCUC:EX; bchydroregulatorygroup@bchydro.com
Cc: Charles.reid@bchydro.com; info.utilities@corix.com; john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca; premier@gov.bc.ca; hlth.minister@gov.bc.ca; perry.kendall@gov.bc.ca; elizabeth.may@greenparty.ca
Subject: Charging for the meter reader when the service is not in place

I would like to know why BC hydro only charges us for the meter reader?

BC hydro sends a meter reader every second month because they do not have the infrastructure in place to read meter electronically but I pay and my neighbour doesn’t.

We do use the same service and it is unfair that I am charged extra and they aren’t.

I also don’t agree that $meters are harmless … I feel like the government of BC is supporting the demise of fairness.

I live near Kaslo BC and have 3 meters and am charged $100 every time the meter reader shows up. I barely use that much electricity.

What would you call that practice?

Some of us care what happens in this province and I sure intend to support Eliz May in the next election and see if some of this nonsense can be corrected.

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Sent: July 8, 2014 1:27 PM
To: Patrick.wruck@bcuc.com
Cc: oppositionleader@leg.bc.ca; mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca; bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca; good@cknw.com; msmyth@theprovince.com
Subject: Discrimination by BC Hydro

Dear Mr. Patrick Wruck,

I am concerned about the fact that BC Hydro is not treating all customers equally.  My understanding is that countless people with smart meters are having their meters read manually with no charge to them at all, while those with analogue meters are being charged a service fee.  This is discrimination.

I have retained our home’s analogue meter due to serious health problems — my husband is permanently disabled and now has significant cognitive and sleep problems as a result of his disability.

I am continually pressured and harassed by BC Hydro through letters and phone calls to pay outrageous fees and to change my contract.  I have done nothing to alter my original contract with BC Hydro, yet they are attempting to charge me with an additional fee each month.  My account has always been kept up to date over the past decades.  Since the introduction of the smart meter, I have consistently paid for usage fees, but my account is now considered overdue by BC Hydro because I have not been paying the legacy meter fees.

I have heard of countless people living in areas that are out of the way or who have inaccessible meters who have been reading their own meters for years.  Will BC Hydro reimburse those individuals $32.40 a month for every time they’ve read their own meters over the past decades?

I am more than willing to read my own analogue meter and phone in the results to BC Hydro.  Once a year BC Hydro can send someone to confirm that my information adds up accurately.  I am willing to read my own analogue meter and I will not charge BC Hydro a cent.

Being charged $32.40 each month by BC Hydro for having my meter read every other month is unreasonable.  I should not be pressured or harassed to pay an exorbitant fee for a service that countless people with smart meters — who are also having their meters manually read — are receiving for free.

BC Hydro is discriminating against people with health issues and, in our case, charging a family on disability income a fee we can’t afford.  BC Hydro is providing a service to some customers for free and yet charging other customers for the exact same service.

Please tell me how BC Hydro can discriminate like this and how it can be sanctioned.

Please instruct BC Hydro to stop charging “legacy meter fees” for people who are having their meters manually read while other customers are receiving the same service for free.  All BC Hydro customers must be treated equally.