I apologize for all of the problems we had with the update last night. The limitations of the email systems and providers and making things difficult. Apparently some of the links in the update could not be accessed and the update could not be printed. If you wish to print it or to see about registering for the class action, the information is available at http://tinyurl.com/pn9xwb5
- A US Congressional hearing: power grid is very vulnerable to attack due to “$$meters” and internet connectivity provides many entry points.
“He mentions two initiatives that can make the system more vulnerable: “smart meters” that enable communication between the utility and customer; and “smart” components that provide the system operator detailed data on the transmission and distribution system.”
Smart grid systems have a number of benefits, “including improved reliability with fewer and shorter outages … and an improved ability to detect and respond to potential attacks on the grid,” Wilshusen states in written testimony, but warned at the hearing, “if not implemented securely, modernized electricity grid systems will be vulnerable to attacks that could result in widespread loss of electrical services.”
- Fighting the smeter program in Tulsa, Oklahoma for some of the same reasons we are.
$$meters are contentious in many other places:
- Fortis is justifying their threats and their forcing smeters on homes. What benefits can justify putting health and safety at risk? How important is the fact that Fortis can see an outage sooner when a home is burning down?? This deserves comments, but I couldn’t figure out how to make one.
- Please read the stream of letters below, from the bottom up. A story of Hydro’s dishonesty, harassment, but Patrick Wruck’s providing help, making Hydro do the right thing. It shows that perseverance can work. And keeping pressure on the BCUC from all of us can help.
**********************************
Letters:
Letters from the same person , one to Brad Bishop, one to Patrick Wruck, one to Greg Reimer. PLUS A GOOD NEWS LETTER!
Sent: October 27, 2015 1:41 PM
To: ‘Dennis and Sharon Noble’ <dsnoble@shaw.ca>
Subject: RE: GOOD NEWS
Hi Sharon,
However, our situation has been remedied thanks to Patrick Wruck. He called me early this morning and said he would get hold of Hydro asap. Before noon my husband (Stefan) received a call from Darren Jacks from BC Hydro customer service. He apologized for all the trouble and said it should never have happened, that changing an account # does not constitute accepting a smart meter. We definitely have every right to stay on the Legacy program and he has corrected things in the computer so we should not have any more problems. He was extremely courteous and friendly and said to give him a call if we have any other problems. He said that analogs will be changed out every 2nd year but with another refurbished analog.
He alluded to the fact that there is and has been a lot going on in some of the various hydro departments. So possibly ‘back lash’ is happening.
*****
From: X
Sent: October-27-15 7:30 AM
To: greg.reimer@bchydro.com
Cc: brad.bishop@bchydro.com; Jessica.mcdonald@bchydro.com; Patrick.wruck@bcuc.com
Subject: Urgent Response Needed
Importance: High
Dear Greg Reimer,
I am attaching the letters that I sent to you by email, Oct 24th. I also put in a complaint to the Ombudsperson office and they have accepted my complaint and forwarded it to their investigative department to be looked into.
I received a call from Gerry in the Smart Meter program today to confirm access to my property on Thursday which is your D-Day for me to accept a smart meter or be disconnected. My wife told him to put it on hold.
I feel it is only fair Mr. Reimer that you put your Smart Meter Program people on hold at this time (regarding changing out my meter) until the Ombudsperson completes their investigation which could take a couple of months. I also want time for Patrick Wruck, BCUC to have a look at this situation. I have looked at BC Hydro’s terms and conditions as I stated and it appears to me that I have every right to continue on with my Legacy Meter Program. If, after Mr. Wrick and the Ombudsman have looked at the situation and decide in favor of hydro then I will give in and allow hydro to switch out my meter.
Prior to installing a smart meter at my home I also need time to look into meter bases for the smart meter. As you should be aware house fires are a problem relating to smart meters and specifically the type being installed in BC. These are now being taken out in many places including Saskatoon and Ontario due to the fire hazards. As you may also be aware the problem is that the meters are being installed on bases which were created for analog meters not smart meters. As my house is old with some old wiring it is my responsibility to ensure items installed are safe and will not be a potential fire risk. At this time I cannot be sure the smart meter put on the analog base is safe.
So again, I ask you to honour our democracy in Canada and have your Smart Meter Program put their execution on hold for the time being and stop their bullying. I am willing to work together with Patrick Wruck, the Ombudsperson and yourself to come to an agreeable solution.
Sincerely and without Prejudice,
*******
Mr. Brad Bishop
BC Hydro – Meter Deployment Manager
6911 Southpoint Drive,
Burnaby, BC V3N 4X8
brad.bishop@bchydro.com
Dear Mr. Bishop,
I am writing in response to your very threatening and bullying antics including the final notice letter I received dated Oct 15th/2015 suggesting disconnection of service on Oct 29th if I do not comply with your necessary meter exchange.
Firstly, although I have put a gate up after we had a vehicle stolen, our yard and meter are both accessible to BC Hydro for meter reading without a problem. And as a senior citizen it is easy to make an appointment with me just as other company’s do for other reasons. Secondly, your letter states a necessary meter exchange. My Legacy meter was upgraded in Sept 2014 so there is no need for a meter exchange at this time.
Since I assume your letter infers exchanging the Legacy meter for a Smart meter I have read the BC Hydro Terms and Conditions regarding the Legacy Meter program which I qualified for. I have met all my obligations, never missed a hydro payment in 50yrs, pay the ongoing legacy meter fees, allowed hydro to change out and update my analog meter in Sept 2014, have owned & still own this home at 3192 Horn St. for the past 30 years and therefore still qualify for the legacy meter program under your Terms and Conditions.
I will restate my position as in my letter to Greg Reimer dated July 30/2015.
One of your Customer Service supervisors chose to change my account number because I simply wanted my ex-wife’s name off the account since we have been divorced for 25 yrs. This supervisor assured me everything would stay exactly the same – nothing would change. This was stated a number of times throughout our conversation. I asked that my ex-wife’s name be taken off the account, I did not ask for a new account number. This was done strictly for Hydro’s convenience, not mine. By every account I am in the meter choice program and if a new account number changed that then it is hydro’s error and responsibility to fix it or change my account number back, reactivating my old account without any changes or interruptions in my service. Hydro can do either one of these options to correct the problem.
At this time I am also filing a complaint to Patrick Wruck at BCUC and the ombudsperson. 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 his situation.
Sincerely & Without Prejudice,
******
Patrick Wruck
Complaints Officer, BCUC
Dear Patrick,
I am writing you in regards to ongoing threatening and bullying tactics by Brad Bishop, Manager of BC Hydro’s Meter Deployment Dept.
I am attaching the letter dated Oct 15, 2015 threatening to disconnect my power by Oct 29th if I do not allow them to change out my Legacy meter for a Smart meter. The last letter I received threatening disconnection was July 23rd. At that time I wrote Greg Reimer, Executive VP of Hydro explaining the situation and forwarded a copy to you.
I am a senior citizen who chose to go on the legacy meter program and accept the charges for having one. My reasons were outlined in my letter to Greg Reimer in July. I have met all my obligations, never missed a hydro payment in 50yrs, pay the ongoing legacy meter fees, allowed hydro to change out my old Legacy meter for an updated one in Sept 2014, have owned & still own this home at 3192 Horn St. for the past 30 years. After reading BC Hydro’s Terms and Conditions regarding Legacy Meter’s I am by every account in the meter choice program and should not be harassed. I have not moved and therefore still qualify for the program under their Terms and Conditions.
In April one of Hydro’s Customer Service supervisors chose to change my account number simply because I wanted my ex-wife’s name off the account since we have been divorced for 25 yrs. This supervisor assured me everything would stay exactly the same – nothing would change. This was stated a number of times throughout our conversation. I asked that my ex-wife’s name be taken off the account, I did not ask for a new account number. Changing the account number was strictly Hydro for Hydro’s convenience, not mine. Now the Meter Deployment Dept. is threatening and harassing me on an ongoing basis through phone calls and letters. I am asking Hydro to fix their mistake by either coding my new account as on the Legacy program or changing things back to my old account without disruption.
In the meantime I continue to pay legacy fees for my meter program and BC Hydro continues to cash my clearly stated cheques.
I am asking you to step in if possible. It will cause us undue hardship if our hydro is cut off and it allows ruthlessness to prevail. This behavior is a violation of our human rights in BC and Canada and is unacceptable for a company that has complete control over a service that every person requires with no other options. There is still a class action law suit yet to be heard in court and BC Hydro should not be allowed to harass or interfere with their customers while this legal action is ongoing.
Thank you.
**********************
Newsletter prepared by Sharon Noble
The cost of wireless convenience: EHS, infertility, cancer.