1) Is the Meter Base a Consumer Product? Or Not?
As we’ve been told, we own the meter base which is being abused and misused by having a smart meter put into it. Years ago when I wrote to the Consumer Affairs Dept (federal) about the dangers posed by the smart meters, I was told that the smart meters were not consumer products because they were owned by BCHydro and BCHydro is not a consumer. Therefore I assumed that because we own the meter bases and they are on our homes, that they are consumer products. Apparently not, according to the provincial consumer protection agency. No one wants to get involved. My correspondence is below in letters.
I have written to the federal agency as well. When I have a response I will share.
2) CT scans and children.
Dr. Rebecca Smith-Bindman of the University of California-San Francisco, a leading expert on the effects of medical imaging, told The Huffington Post that research suggests just one CT scan can triple a child’s risk of developing some types of cancer. As many as 1 in 300 children who get a CT scan of the abdomen, chest or spine will eventually develop a tumor as a result of the radiation, she said. see http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1696279
“The doses used for CT are in the same range where we’ve seen direct evidence of harmful effects,” Smith-Bindman said. “The median dose that people got in Hiroshima was 40 millisieverts. see https://www.allianz.com/en/about_us/open-knowledge/topics/environment/articles/110407-radiation-how-much-is-harmful.html/
And we find that those are doses that patients get all the time.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/childrens-hospitals-ct-scans-study_55df8791e4b0c818f6175b69
3) In West Virginia resistance to smart meters is growing. http://wvtf.org/post/smart-meters-new-technology-monitor-electricity-consumption-has-some-skeptical#stream/0
4) Reduce EMF’s in public transit says federal disability advisory group “The National Council on Disability Transportation Report addresses chemical and electrical sensitivities and recommends changes in policies and practices to improve access:
for the full report http://www.ncd.gov/publications/2015/05042015/
for a summary http://microwavechasm.org/2015/09/01/reduce-emfs-in-public-transit-says-federal-disability-advisory-group/
5) People are finding collectors, which is great, and several have provided the actual coordinates, photos, etc. which is most helpful. One of our technical people wrote out the instructions for finding the info available on google earth. The steps are simple – if I can do it, it has to be simple.
Get the address nearest the collector and follow these steps.
1 – In browser enter –www.google.ca/maps –
2 – entered nearby address – example 1000 Camp Road, Lake Country BC
3 – used map to navigate to location desired – example – just above the Gray Monk Estate Winery 4 – entered “Street View”
4 – look around
5 – Share link (see 3 dots top left)
6A – copy the long URL and add that to an email to be sent – This will allow the receiver of the email to see same view
or 6B -select only lat/long coordinates of of the long URL – example 50.0538995,-119.4404304 and place them in Google Earth for similar display if you like using Google Earth. – It works
The Lat/Long are the important numbers and seem to be very accurate (maybe down to the inch or foot at least) These are needed when searching on Industry Canada’s website to find the number of transmitters near a specific address, for example.
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Letters:
From the bottom up, please.
From: info@consumerprotectionbc.ca
Sent: September 1, 2015 10:24 AM
To: Dennis and Sharon Noble <dsnoble@shaw.ca
Subject: RE: Inquiry re. safety of electrical device
Dear Sharon Noble,
Consumer Protection bc has a mandate that allows us to oversee specific industries. Here is a link to the industries that we oversee. http://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/consumers-alias/help-for-how-can-we-help
We do not oversee consumer product safety or BC Hydro. ConsumerProtection have does not have the ability or the information that would be needed to investigate the concerns you have raised.
I have provided the suggestions that I hoped would be able to help you. If you are unable to get the information you are looking for via these referrals you can contact your local MLA to report issues that you feel should be reviewed.
Please feel free to contact Consumer Protection BC if you have any more questions. Thank you,
FRASER CRICHTON
INQUIRY OFFICER Consumer Protection BC
P 250.920.7112 TF 1.888.564.9963 Ext. 2803
A 307-3450 UPTOWN BLVD. VICTORIA BC V8Z 0B9 W www.consumerprotectionbc.ca
CONNECT WITH US:
https://www.facebook.com/ConsumerProtectionBC http://twitter.com/consumerprobc http://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/blog
http://www.youtube.com/user/ConsumerProBC
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From: Dennis and Sharon Noble [mailto:dsnoble@shaw.ca]
Sent: Monday, August 31, 2015 8:42 PM
To: info@consumerprotectionbc.ca
Subject: Inquiry re. safety of electrical device
Importance: High
Dear Mr. Crichton,
Thank you for your very prompt response. I do have more questions.
As I stated in my initial email, the BC Utilities Commission cannot investigate anything regarding the smart meter problem, including any safety issue. The government ensured, through the Clean Energy Act of 2010, that the BC Utilities Commission could not fulfill its role as protector of the public by stating that the BCUC could not get involved in any aspect, except the setting of rates.
Can you please explain to me why Consumer Protection BC cannot investigate the safety of the meter base, which is a consumer product?
There has been no testing or certification of the smart meter in conjunction with the meter base (the consumer product) and there have been incidents of overheating, melting and burning of meters. The statement in BC Hydro’s link that you’ve provided is not accurate. Industry Canada and Measurements Canada test only for meter accuracy, not for safety. This smart meter has received no certification by an independent electrical engineer, as if required by law, confirming it is not a fire hazard.
There have been incidents involving ITRON smart meters, not only in BC but elsewhere. Read the testimony included in this legal brief, especially pages 7-10 in which the experienced linesman describes how the ITRON meters do not fit into the meter bases but rather allow a gap that can and has caused arcing and fires. https://stopsmartmetersbc.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Reed_Answering_Brief-1.pdf
BCHydro is not telling the truth when it says there have been no smart meter fires. There have been and some examples are attached. Who is to act on behalf of British Columbians whose lives and properties are being put at risk? There must be some provincial agency who has the authority to do this. If the BC Utilities Commission can’t, the BC Safety Authority can’t, and the Consumer Protection of BC can’t, who can? The meter base is a consumer product, and if you do not have the authority to investigate its safety, who does? I look forward to receiving your response.
Thank you.
Sharon Noble
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From: info@consumerprotectionbc.ca
Sent: August 31, 2015 4:15 PM
To: Dennis and Sharon Noble <dsnoble@shaw.ca
Subject: RE: Inquiry re safety of electrical device Dear Sharon Noble Thank you for contacting Consumer Protection BC. We promote a fair marketplace for BC consumers and businesses by administering BC’s consumer protection law through licensing and regulating specific industries under the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act <
We also provide referrals to consumers not covered by the by Consumer Protection BC law. Consumer Protection BC does not have the ability to investigate potential safety concerns regarding the smart meters. It is my understanding that you can direct these questions to the British Columbia Utilities Commission http://www.bcuc.com/ .
I have also found some information http://fcabc.ca/Files/Smart%20Metering%20Program%20-%20FAQFINAL.PDF that has been made available by the Fire Chief Association of BC.
Additionally any consumer product safety issues can be submitted to the Consumer Protection Safety branch of Health Canada. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/index-eng.php
Please understand that I am unable to conform how these organizations will be able to help you .
Please do not hesitate to contact Consumer Protection BC if you have any more questions.
Thank you,
FRASER CRICHTON
INQUIRY OFFICER Consumer Protection BC
P 250.920.7112 TF 1.888.564.9963 Ext. 2803
A 307-3450 UPTOWN BLVD. VICTORIA BC V8Z 0B9 W www.consumerprotectionbc.ca
CONNECT WITH US:
https://www.facebook.com/ConsumerProtectionBC http://twitter.com/consumerprobc http://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/blog
http://www.youtube.com/user/ConsumerProBC
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From: Dennis and Sharon Noble [mailto:dsnoble@shaw.ca]
Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2015 1:20 PM
To: info@consumerprotectionbc.ca
Subject: Inquiry re safety of electrical device
Dear Sir or Madam,
I would like to know if safety of an electrical device is within your jurisdiction.
Specifically the electricity meter base, which is owned by the homeowner, is being used in a manner for which it was not designed. A potential risk for fire exists when a device is inserted into the base for which it was not designed, tested, or certified to hold.
The meter base on homes was designed in conjunction with the analog meter, and was certified to hold it and nothing else. I have obtained legal testimony concerning the ITRON smart meter, the very same model used by utility companies in BC, stating that the smart meter’s blades are thinner than the analog’s, leaving a gap which causes arcing and fires.
I have raised concerns with the BC Utilities Commission and the BC Safety Authority, but I have been told that the government’s Clean Energy Act precludes them from taking action. even to investigate this hazard. Overheated, melted and burned meters have occurred in BC – I have evidence to substantiate this assertion should you wish to see it.
I realize that the smart meters, being owned by the utilities, are not consumer products and, therefore, do not fall under the Consumer Protection Act. The meter bases are owned by the homeowner and, therefore, are consumer products. Would you please tell me if you have authority to investigate the use to which this product is being put and the safety of it? If you do not, please tell me what agency would.
Thank you for your time and assistance.
Sincerely, Sharon Noble
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Newsletter prepared by Sharon Noble
The cost of wireless convenience: EHS, infertility, cancer.