- I am continuing to request fire reports and to submit Freedom of Information requests to obtain more evidence that fires and meter failures have occurred. The reports are often vague, but today I obtained one that I think gives sufficient information for us all to be angry, and to demand that these meters be removed. This fire occurred on Aug. 5, 2012 and is not on Hydro’s FOI (https://stopsmartmetersbc.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/BC-Hydro-FOI-Fires-3.pdf). Here are the comments that were included. And please note, this is the first proof I have obtained that BC Hydro is paying for damages, with our money. (I removed the address,)
Remember Bill Bennett and Hydro deny that any failures or fires have occurred. I’ve sent him this report (see letters) http://www.theprovince.com/technology/Smart+meters+safe+Hydro+maintains+Saskatchewan+opts+remove+them/10079964/story.html
PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Ministry of Justice
FIRE REPORT – STRUCTURE (NARRATIVE)
Emergency Management BC / Office of the Fire Commissioner INCIDENT NUMBER: CCQ 2012 08 05 01 06
Remarks:
CREW RESPONDED TO A REPORT OF A FIRE AT THE ELECTRICAL METER OUTSIDE OF XXXX AVENUE, COQUITLAM. THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE VICINITY OF THE ELECTRICAL METER AND THE FIRE ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE SIDING.
THE RESIDENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE USING A HAND-HELD EXTINGUISHER PRIOR TO CREW ARRIVAL.
THE RESIDENT ALSO SHUT OFF THE POWER TO THE RESIDENCE.
THE CREW CHECKED THE RESIDENCE WITH A TIC, AND NO EVIDENCE OF FIRE EXTENSION WAS FOUND.
BC HYDRO WAS NOTIFIED AND RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AS WELL.
THE METER HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH A SMART METER WITHIN THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
HYDRO CUT THE POWER TO THE HOME AT THE POLE, AND THE SCENE WAS LEFT IN THEIR CARE.
THE HOMEOWNER ADVISED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CONTAINED TO THE METER, WITH A LITTLE BIT OF DAMAGE TO THE PAINT/SIDING.
THERE WAS NO EXTENSION TO ANY WIRING, AND NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.
ACCORDING TO THE HOMEOWNER, BC HYDRO IS COVERING THE DAMAGES.
THERE IS NO INSURANCE CLAIM FILED.
- BC Hydro continues to do its dirty work of cutting power for those brave and principled souls who refuse to allow to pay extortion fees to not have a dangerous fire hazard on their homes. It seems now that winter has arrived Hydro is doing this with more vim and vigour. Below is a letter from a father of 4 who had his power cut last week.
- It appears that ITRON has figured out a way to turn its AMR (one way communicating meters) into AMI (2 way communicating meters like Hydro and Fortis use.) Supposedly the water smeters that are being installed in BC are AMR. As soon as I learn more about this I will let you know. The 2 way communication would cause more RF exposure and would allow water to be controlled remotely.
http://www.metering.com/meter-reading-texas-utility-deploys-joint-itron-tantalus-solution/
- US Homeland Security warns that it is very likely that the utility grids and infrastructure have already been invaded with viruses or malware. It’s waiting to be activated.
- Smart appliances are now being sold. When you buy anything electrical you will have to search to see if it has a zigbee chip. The salespeople most likely will not know for certain, but if the material on it says “smart” that’s a pretty good indication to buy something else.
- In New Zealand, people who don’t want a smeter can change electricity providers. If only we had that choice…. How would we get competition in BC?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11356251
- SaskEnergy’s new gas modules draw several comparisons to the disastrous smart meters that are slated to be removed
http://globalnews.ca/news/1665822/smart-meter-saga-a-comprehensive-timeline/
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Letters:
From: Dennis and Sharon Noble [mailto:dsnoble@shaw.ca]
Sent: November 14, 2014 5:33 PM
To: Bill Bennett (mem.minister@gov.bc.ca); ‘greg.reimer@bchydro.com‘
Cc: John Horgan. Leader NDP; Christy Clark (premier@gov.bc.ca); ‘adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca‘; ‘gary.holman.mla@leg.bc.ca‘; ‘Karagianis.MLA, Maurine’; ‘Shin.MLA, Jane Jae Kyung’; CKNW Mike Smyth (msmyth@theprovince.com)
Subject: Smart meter fires
Mr. Bennett and Mr. Reimer,
In multiple statements you both have denied that ITRON smart meters have ever failed, causing any fires. I dispute your denial, having found many incidents, some of which were included in the fire report, The Truth about Smart Meter Fires and Failures, which I sent to you in August.
Obviously you need more evidence that our homes and lives are being put at risk before you will take action, as the government of Saskatchewan has done.
I have received information from victims, from the Fire Commissioner and the Attorney General’s Office, from BC Safety Authority and from BC Hydro which proves that you are being negligent in your job which is, above all, to act on behalf of the people in British Columbia – your constituents and your employers. In case you need more confirmation of my statement, I provide just a sample of the information I’ve received to date. And know that I have more fires to investigate.
- Attached is a file on a fire in Coquitlam on Aug. 5, 2012. It was not included on BC Hydro’s records of smart meter failures, but I believe (yet to confirm) that it was included on BC Safety Authority’s summary. This report contains a clear admission that not only was there a smart meter fire but also BC Hydro paid for the repairs to the home.
- This fire was not reported by BC Hydro to the BC Safety Authority as required and neither was it included in BC Hydro’s own records of smart meter failures:
- This fire was not reported by BC Hydro to the BC Safety Authority as required and neither was it reported in BC Hydro’s own records of smart meter failures:
http://citizensforsafetechnology.org/Oops-there-goes-another-Smart-Meter,25,2360
This was the second smart meter failure at this store according to an electrician who was called to attend. I have multiple photos and more information obtained by people who witnessed the fire.
- Attached is a report (not attached, too large a file) on a fire that occurred in a Vernon restaurant in January, 2013. It was in BC Hydro’s records. The Fire Commissioner was given the cause as a “short circuit”. In fact the short circuit was caused by water leaking into the smart meter, resulting in a fire, just like some of the “failures” in Saskatchewan which resulted in the cessation of the entire smart meter program. Your denial, saying that BC’s meters are not the same as those in Saskatchewan, falls short in its transparency.
- In Vernon, Aug. 14, 2013 2 homes were destroyed, and the official fire report says that the fire was due to a short circuit in the smart meter base, the cause cannot be determined because of the amount of damage. Again, short circuits occurred in Sensus smart meters in Saskatchewan which have most of the same design flaws as the ITRON meter.
FORM OF HEAT : 2000 SPARK, ELECTRICAL – INCLUDES ARC, DISCHARGE. (EXCLUDES STATI
MATERIAL FIRST IGNITED : 3000 EXTERIOR WALL COVERING, SURFACE, FINISH – INCLUDES EAVE
ACT OR OMISSION : 4400 ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT
Investigating Officer LAFC Badge # Telephone ReportDate
Incident Report Page 1 of 4
http://www.ofc.gov.bc.ca/OFC/IncidentReport.jsp?incidentId=248964 2014-05-26
Page 10
JAG-2014-00688
PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Ministry of Justice
FIRE REPORT – STRUCTURE (NARRATIVE)
Emergency Management BC / Office of the Fire Commissioner INCIDENT NUMBER: CVE 2013 08 13 05 01
Remarks:
THE CAUSE OF THIS FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN THE METER BASE FOR THIS DWELLING. DUE TO THE
AMOUNT OF DAMAGE, THE CAUSE OF THIS FAILURE AND THE RESULTING ARC FLASH WAS NOT DETERMINED
Now, Mr. Bennett and Mr. Reimer, you cannot say you have never seen any evidence that ITRON smart meters are fire hazards. I have asked you before and you failed to even acknowledge my letter. I ask you again, Mr. Bennett, how many failures and fires are necessary for me to prove before you will stop misleading the citizens of BC about the fact that these smart meters are fire hazards? If you give me a number, I will provide the evidence – I have it.
Sincerely,
Sharon Noble
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From: XXXXXXXXXXX
Sent: November-08-14 4:16 PM
To: ‘oppositionleader@leg.bc.ca‘
Cc: ‘bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca‘; ‘premier@gov.bc.ca‘; ‘hlth.health@gov.bc.ca‘
Subject: BC Hydro Beats up Kamloops Family of 6
The honorable John Horgan
CC The Bullies
BCC The Press
For the X Family, it is very cold right now and our water lines are going to burst soon!
BC Hydro crew escorted by an RCMP officer? showed up on Nov 6th ( WINTER TIME) to our Kamloops address and cut our power off.
I refuse to have an unsafe, uncertified non- CSA’ed smart meter on my house! My analog meter is working just fine thank you! I also refuse BC Hydro’s offer to re-contract for their alleged smart meter program. BC hydro staff told me the only way they will reconnect our (Publically owned Electricity Utility) is if I pay the their extortion fees + a re-connection fee + accept a smart meter on our home.
I CAN NOT and WILL NOT put my family’s safety at risk of harm (IE burning down my house) SASK POWER JUST had another house fire yesterday because of the smart meter!! HOW MUCH PROOF DO THE LIBERALS NEED BILL?????)
This is a clear case of extortion and bulling from the Liberal Government, We have continued to pay all our hydro bills in full to date (except the extortion fees) You will find my credit history in good order with all suppliers.
My wife and four children are having a hard time understanding why we are being punished for protecting our health and possible lives from danger? A police officer just talked to my 7 & 9 year olds at public school about bulling and how it is wrong no matter what the circumstance…….. the liberal government cuts our lines the same day, made for a rather difficult dinner conversation that evening in the dark!!!!
A simplified version for the slower folks………
Big kid says to the little kid, give me your lunch money or I will beat you up,
Small kid says “ no “ I need this money to buy food…
Big kid says again, give me your money or I will beat you up……
Small kid says “no” I need this money to buy food…
Big kid beats up the small kid , takes his money and his bike, then justifies it by saying it is in the public’s best interest!
Please do the right thing Christie, like Sask power did, and kill this program before it kills us !!!!!!!
ex·tor·tion ikˈstôrSH(ə)n/ noun
- the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats.
| synonyms: | blackmail, shakedown;formalexaction“arrested on a charge of extortion” |
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BC Hydro admits legacy fees are charged as Punishment for not accepting the Smart Meters
Read Hydro’s letter first, below mine.
From: Dennis and Sharon Noble [mailto:dsnoble@shaw.ca]
Sent: November 13, 2014 1:50 PM
To: ‘adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca‘; John Horgan. Leader NDP
Cc: Patrick Wruck; ‘commission.secretary@bcuc.com‘
Subject: FW: BC Hydro’s Legacy Fees ref.#87414
Dear Adrian and John,
We finally have an admission that we are being charged the legacy fees because we would not accept the smart meter and NOT because of any additional work is being done because of this. This is counter to everything in the Utilities Commission Act – we are being treated unfairly and uneqitably. The fee is being used as punishment for not accepting something we believe to be dangerous to our health and safety.
I ask what you are going to do with this critical and vital admission. I hope you will be as upset by this as I am.
Regards,
Sharon Noble
*************************************************
From: “MEM EAED Correspondence MEM:EX” <MEM.EAED.Correspondence@gov.bc.ca>
Subject: re: BC Hydro’s Legacy Fees ref.#87414
Date: November 7, 2014 12:58:20 PM PST
To: _____________
Dear M___________
Honourable Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines, has asked me to respond to your November 2, 2014 email regarding fees under BC Hydro’s Meter Choices Program.
The Meter Choices Program fees are not just meter reading fees. The fees recover the additional costs of adding and maintaining resources, equipment and systems that have been automated by modern meters. Asking customers who request customised services to cover these costs is a fair solution because it prevents the additional costs from being passed on to all customers. The British Columbia Utilities Commission reviewed the fees to make sure they are fair and only recover the additional costs. A copy of the decision can be found at
More than 99 per cent of BC Hydro customers have smart meters and the vast majority are being read automatically. As BC Hydro works to complete the communications network that supports the metering system, field staff are manually downloading information from a small number of smart meters that are not communicating automatically yet. Customers with smart meters are not being charged for this service because they have accepted BC Hydro’s standard equipment.
If you have further questions about BC Hydro fees please contact them directly at smartmeters@bchydro.com or 1 800 409 8199.
Thank you for writing.
Sincerely,
Les MacLaren
Assistant Deputy Minister
Electricity and Alternative Energy Division
Ministry of Energy and Mines
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