• A brilliant, simple concept for generating electricity being used in

 http://themindunleashed.org/2015/02/portland-just-installed-water-pipes-generate-electricity.html

 

• “The idea of bridging the gap between the cyber world and the physical world has been around for a while,” Kruegel said, referring to long-standing fears of possible cyber attacks on power grids, water plants, and other infrastructure targets.

“Now, these proof-of-concepts show that it is a real threat. All these devices are out there and reachable, and security is terrible.”

“Hacking smart watches, door locks, fitness bands, power meters, or other devices woven into the Internet of Things also carries the risk of villains tapping into rich troves of data gathered by sensors monitoring many aspects of people’s lives.”

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-smart-gadgets-from-guns-to-cars-ripe-for-hacking-2015-8#ixzz3hg5RNXiv

 

• The Internet of Things (IoT) is becoming part of everyday lives, and most don’t even know it.

“What you’re about to lose is your privacy, and the cause is the internet of things (IoT). Actually, you are not just going to lose your privacy, the very concept of privacy may be rewritten under your nose. That’s because while the IoT is going to add a lot to our lives, it’s probably going to take our privacy in payment, whether you want it to or not.”

http://www.abc.net.au/technology/articles/2015/04/24/4223019.htm

 

• How many more studies are needed before the government – and Dr. Perry Kendall – acknowledge that radiation from wireless devices can cause irreparable, serious damage?

“now a new meta-study finds that the radiation cellphones emit are a real danger. The new research, which is based on a review of 100 studies, found that the low-intensity radiofrequency radiation (RFR), cellphones emit, has an effect on living cells and can damage DNA.”

http://bighealthreport.com/19319/cellphones-can-cause-cancer-meta-study-confirms/

 

• In India, where the exposure limits are mere fractions of those allowed by Health Canada’s Safety Code 6, a parliamentary panel is pushing for stricter regulations and monitoring of wireless transmitter sites. In Canada there is no official monitoring. Companies are on the “honour system”.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/parliamentary-panel-pitches-for-regulations-for-mobile-towers/articleshow/48315280.cms

• The Financial Institutions Commission has regulatory authority over insurance companies, so I’ve written them about responsibility  of insurers to notify the public re. fire hazards. My letter is below. I do hope each of you will do some writing about the fire issue. We must keep pressure on, yes, even writing our MLAs who do nothing as well as the BCUC and the insurers – the more people they hear from the more they will realize they cannot ignore us.

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Letters:

To: greg.reimer@bchydro.com

Dear Mr. Reimer,

I am writing regarding a situation that resulted when I called Customer Service in April and this error, whether done innocently or intentionally, requires correcting.

I have owned this home at #### Street for 28 years and have paid all hydro bills.  My wife and I divorced 25 years ago and because she set up the account at the time, customer service over the years say they cannot take her name off so it was left on.  With your current computer system her name is on the account 1^st and mine 2^nd so customer service gives me a hassle any time I call. When this happened in April I asked to speak to a supervisor.  I was put through to Wendy who quickly said she could easily take care of this problem by setting up a new account and closing that one.  She assured me everything would stay exactly the same, I would just have a new number and there may be a small charge.  Before I hung up I confirmed again that I would have no problems and she again assured me nothing will change except the account will show up in my name only.

The following week I have an installer at my door telling me he is here to change out my meter.  I am on the Legacy Meter program and told him they changed out and updated my analog meter in September.  I have now received a letter dated July 23th from Brad Bishop, BC Hydro Meter Deployment Manager suggesting my power will be disconnected unless there is access to change out my meter.

Phone calls to both your customer service and meter departments are telling me that because Wendy gave me a new account number it now gives hydro permission to change out my analog meter to a smart meter without my permission.

I am sorry, Greg this is not customer service.  Wendy assured me everything would stay the same, she would have known this and as a customer I would not.  It was her responsibility to have communicated this clearly to me at which time I would have told her to leave things as they are.  I changed nothing, BC hydro has.  And now your Meter department is using intimidation and harassment and I ask you to have it stopped.  I know that hydro can make an exception and set this account up on the Legacy program or they can reverse their error and put things back to the way they were.

One of the reasons I choose to stay on the Legacy program is that my house is 80-90yrs old and I have legitimate concerns about the safety of smart meters installed in old homes.  Now, as you are aware BCUC’s Patrick Wruck will be looking into the fire issues and smart meters and BC hydro is not the only company having these problems. I have no problems with analog meters and it is my right as well as my obligation to say NO to something I consider could be dangerous especially since BC Hydro accepts zero responsibility for problems that may arise out of the installation of these units.

I will continue to pay my legacy meter charge.  I am also a member of the Class Action Suit against BC Hydro in the Supreme Court of British Columbia and ask not to be harassed or interfered with while this legal action is ongoing.

I trust you to correct this situation.

Sincerely & Without Prejudice,

X

Cc:
Jessica McDonald, Jessica.mcdonald@bchydro.com
Patrick Wruck, Patrick.wruck@bcuc.com
John Horgan, john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca
Adrian Dix, Adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca
Mike Dejong, mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca
Sharon Noble, director@stopsmartmeterbc.com

______________________________________________

From: Dennis and Sharon Noble [mailto:dsnoble@shaw.ca]
Sent: August 2, 2015 1:24 PM
To: ‘FICOM@ficombc.ca‘ <FICOM@ficombc.ca>
Subject: Question re. responsibility of insurers.

Dear Sir or Madam,

Across Canada (as well as the US)  there have been many smart meter related incidents ranging from damaged appliances to home fires. These meters have not been certified to be safe or compatible with the analog meter bases into which they are being installed. Electrical experts have found many design flaws that could lead (and may have led) to fires.

Insurance companies are paying claims, increasing premiums, but are not warning the public that lives and property are being put at risk. Isn’t this something that insurers are obligated to do? I very much look forward to receiving a response about this very important issue.

Also, could you please tell me if insurers are required to notify their clients if a claim is subrogated and reimbursement of amounts paid is obtained?

Thank you for your time.

Regards,

Sharon Noble

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Newsletter prepared by Sharon Noble

“In science, replicable data is gospel.”  Lloyd Morgan