• The “internet of things” (IoT) is able to allow use of our data as never imagined. This is certainly one of the goals, and results, of the $$meters being put on our homes. With the ZigBee chip activation, what we do within our homes will become public knowledge whether we agree to or even know about it or not.

“Imagine a world where the smart meters used to record and manage energy consumption in homes are used by health care providers to monitor outpatients….

Interoperability will be important. For data to be liberalised from existing silos, different systems need to work together. The internet of things will bring a wave of new applications which will be able to plug into existing systems but the biggest potential will be realised with the development of technical standards to ensure the systems can ‘talk’ to one another and data can flow.”

http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2015/december/liberalisation-of-data-will-be-behind-smarter-cities-of-2020-says-expert/

 

• As I said in last night’s update, I have asked experts about studies showing whether Li-Fi is safe or not. One of them provided the attached study which indicates that Li-Fi can, in fact, have biological effects. Hopefully, the introduction of Li-Fi will be delayed until it can be determined that this can be done safely. Dr. Haas has advised that he has attempted to get colleagues at the University of Edinburgh to test whether the light modulation is harmful biologically but there was no interest. Several experts have responded that they have major concerns about the safety and will until studies are done.

LiFi implcations Biophoton detection LILT

 

• In BC Hydro’s financial report, there was reference to an upgrade, IPv6, with nothing that I could find re. costs. Given this industry info. provided by a member, why is this being done? Expensive and no benefits!! No wonder it appeals to BC Hydro.

 

“Nearly a decade after IPv6 was finalized, the network industry has yet to embrace the new protocol. That’s because a forklift upgrade to IPv6 is too expensive and time consuming for a carrier or enterprise, with little measurable return. Instead, the network industry anticipates a gradual transition to IPv6, which will likely run side by side with IPv4 for many years to come.”

http://www.networkworld.com/article/2287474/lan-wan/ipv4-vs–ipv6.html

 

• Mike Campbell of CKNW speaks out about the incompetence of Hydro One in Ontario. Why isn’t he speaking out about BC Hydro and the Liberal government here? I hope you will send him comments via his comment page: http://www.cknw.com/contact-money-talks/

https://soundcloud.com/cknw/policy-that-doesnt-match-the-market-business-comment-dec-3?in=cknw/sets/campbells-comment&utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=email

 

• Ontario’s Auditor General’s report is highly critical of Hydro One. I haven’t had the time to read it yet but the link to it is at:

http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/reports_2015_en.htm

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/12/02/lysyk-doubles-down-on-hydro-one-criticism

http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2015/12/02/ontario-consumers-likely-paying-billions-extra-for-hydro-one-decisions-auditor-general.html

 

• Kendall is giving BC a bad name. A member was contacted by someone in the USA advising about an erroneous statement made on our Provincial Health Officer’s website. I have written to Kendall, sending him a statement by the Chair of the IARC committee refuting his statement (attached above) but Kendall will not acknowledge any possibility of harm. Not only does he look ridiculous and irresponsible by allowing this to stand, but he makes BC look as if we are ignorant of the true consequences of RF radiation.

“I want to make you aware that our school system cited your government here:

 According to the Office of the Provincial Health Officer in British Columbia the 2B classification was based on studies of extremely heavy cell phone use: 1,640 hours or more per year, which is equal to holding a cell phone to the side of one’s head for four hours a day, every day for an entire year. Again, this is cell phone use, not Wi-Fi.

The information may be accessed at the following link: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/do-cell-phones-cause-cancer

 Has anyone contacted the government on this false fact? 

I am about to raise the issue but thought I would check with you in British Columbia? 

 Here is what the website of BC states. 

ttp://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/do-cell-phones-cause-cancer

 Q – Does the classification of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic mean that new information has become available?

A – No. The group of studies on which this classification was based  was released about 16 months ago. They reported an increased incidence of specific brain tumours for cell phone users reporting the most use (greater than or equal to 1640 hours per year). Past studies have also shown an increased risk of tumours on the same side as cell phone use in heavy users who used cell phones for 10 years or longer.  However, these findings are based on self-reported use, which can cause “recall bias” – when someone who has experienced a negative outcome is more likely to remember possible exposures than someone who has not had that outcome.”

• From a member on Salt Spring Island, sent today. Has anyone in some other area seen such “site visits”?

“For Salt Spring residents, I stopped and had a conversation with a Corix guy yesterday when I saw their truck in my neighbourhood — nice guy, clearly saw his job as reassuring people like me who have refused a smart meter which he said he was not installing — in fact he wasn’t installing any meters at all, had none in his truck. (I would have been interested in discussing the possibility of getting a newer analog with him but he said those are handled by BC Hydro anyway.) When I asked what he was doing if it wasn’t installation, he said it was “site visits” — which he said meant that he was checking whatever meters were at the premises on his work order to see if the their i.d. numbers matched what BC Hydro has on record, noting their general condition and location, noting the condition of the poles — and yes that included taking pictures. He didn’t have my address on his work order so I drove on — but afterwards I felt uncomfortable. It must be very costly to BC Hydro to have these “site visits” going on, and he didn’t mention doing actual usage readings, so I wonder what it is really for — some kind of new initiative to extend the coverage of smart meters? Anyone else have info?”

-Suspicious on Salt Spring Island

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Letters:

From the UK about time-of-use billing which will be employed in BC when enough homes are connected. The infrastructure already is in place.

[Bills – TOU – Linlithgow, Scotland] LETTERS: Smart meters are not so bright for consumers by Clark Cross – Edinburgh News – December 02, 2015:
– http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/opinion/letters/letters-smart-meters-are-not-so-bright-for-consumers-1-3964397

My energy supplier offered to install a free ‘smart meter’ saying “New smart meters are part of Government plans to make it easier than ever for you to understand and control your energy use.”

It is not compulsory, so I refused and others should do so or face a Big Brother scenario. A new report shows my fears were justified.

Britain’s leading power firms are expected to introduce tariffs that charge more for gas and electricity at peak times when they roll out new smart meters to monitor how much energy you use. A Government document has already stated that should there be a danger of blackouts, then smart meters would be used to cut off supplies to those with high usage.

Already 1.3 million smart meters have been installed ahead of a national rollout next year which aims to put these in every home by 2020 and of course the costs will be added to our bills. Still think smart meters are a good idea?

Clark Cross, Springfield Road, Linlithgow
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[Bills – TOU – London, England] Smart meters a bit too clever by Paul Sutter – If Press – Letters to the editor: Dec.2 – December 01, 2015:
– http://www.lfpress.com/2015/12/01/letters-to-the-editor-dec-2-2

I suggest everyone register on London Hydro’s website to track their energy usage. You might find some startling numbers that make little sense.

I am finding that at 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. when rates are still low, I have minimum energy consumption. Suddenly, at 7 a.m. when the highest rates kick in, my energy usage surges even when nothing is turned on.

Monday from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., my usage was 25KwH costing two cents, then suddenly, from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., it went up to 45 kWh which meant eight cents. I had nothing more turned on in the house at that time than an hour earlier.

I think the smart meters are reacting more to the times than energy consumed.

It is bad enough we are paying the highest rates in North America. Now it appears the meters have a big hiccup in favour of electricity utilities.

Paul Sutter, London

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Newsletter prepared by Sharon Noble

“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”   Albert Einstein