- In New Zealand people are suffering health effects and high bills. Fortunately they can have the $$meters removed – and many are.
http://www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/kuia-worried-smart-meter-affecting-her-health
- Scientist in Saudi Arabia reports that he has proven that RF radiation from cell phones and cell towers (which are just like smeters) can cause diabetes.
http://www.arabnews.com/featured/news/856296
- I was informed last week, Christmas week, that BCHydro was amending the Electric Tariff, which is the contract which Hydro writes and is approved by BCUC, that states our requirements for service and BC Hydro’s responsibility with regard to its customers. It is odd to me that some of these amendments are being requested as part of the rate design application. Please read the Tariff and Hydro’s suggested changes. If you have concerns please write to the Commission.
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Letters:
From: Dennis and Sharon Noble [mailto:dsnoble@shaw.ca]
Sent: December 27, 2015 9:59 PM
To: ‘Commission Secretary BCUC:EX’ <Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com>
Cc: ‘wjandrews@shaw.ca‘ <wjandrews@shaw.ca>; ‘daa@cwilson.com‘ <daa@cwilson.com>; ‘support@bcpiac.com‘ <support@bcpiac.com>; ‘pvla@xplornet.com‘ <pvla@xplornet.com>; ‘jack.buchanan@gov.bc.ca‘ <jack.buchanan@gov.bc.ca>; ‘rcarle@newwestcity.ca‘ <rcarle@newwestcity.ca>; ‘roger@fsconline.com‘ <roger@fsconline.com>; ‘linda@dongassociates.com‘ <linda@dongassociates.com>; ‘cbefire@telus.net‘ <cbefire@telus.net>; ‘jejaervin@telus.net‘ <jejaervin@telus.net>; ‘gas.regulatory.affairs@FortisBC.com‘ <gas.regulatory.affairs@FortisBC.com>; ‘Jo-Anne.Frank@prrd.bc.ca‘ <Jo-Anne.Frank@prrd.bc.ca>; ‘mgood@midgard-consulting.com‘ <mgood@midgard-consulting.com>; ‘lguenther@novuscom.net‘ <lguenther@novuscom.net>; ‘thackney@shaw.ca‘ <thackney@shaw.ca>; ‘bharper@econalysis.ca‘ <bharper@econalysis.ca>; ‘william.harper4@sympatico.ca‘ <william.harper4@sympatico.ca>; ‘orion.henderson@ubc.ca‘ <orion.henderson@ubc.ca>; ‘iknowjanis@shaw.ca‘ <iknowjanis@shaw.ca>; ‘cdalori@shaw.ca‘ <cdalori@shaw.ca>; ‘paul.kariya@cleanenergybc.org‘ <paul.kariya@cleanenergybc.org>; ‘hansk@telus.net‘ <hansk@telus.net>; ‘mdk@bht.com‘ <mdk@bht.com>; ‘skhan@bcpiac.com‘ <skhan@bcpiac.com>; ‘peter_kletas@yvr.ca‘ <peter_kletas@yvr.ca>; ‘mildredl@telus.net‘ <mildredl@telus.net>; ‘cao@hudsonshope.ca‘ <cao@hudsonshope.ca>; ‘eplusbcgroup@gmail.com‘ <eplusbcgroup@gmail.com>; ‘Kieran.McConnell@vancouver.ca‘ <Kieran.McConnell@vancouver.ca>; ‘pveacoordinator@gmail.com‘ <pveacoordinator@gmail.com>; ‘dsnoble@shaw.ca‘ <dsnoble@shaw.ca>; ‘apeacock@telus.net‘ <apeacock@telus.net>; ‘mark.pinney@capp.ca‘ <mark.pinney@capp.ca>; ‘epritchard@bcpiac.com‘ <epritchard@bcpiac.com>; ‘acpullman@shaw.ca‘ <acpullman@shaw.ca>; ‘jquail@aqwlaw.ca‘ <jquail@aqwlaw.ca>; ‘dramage@shaw.ca‘ <dramage@shaw.ca>; ‘emcinnesrankin@yahoo.ca‘ <emcinnesrankin@yahoo.ca>; ‘ireeve@cope378.ca‘ <ireeve@cope378.ca>; ‘s.ridout@shaw.ca‘ <s.ridout@shaw.ca>; ‘diane.roy@fortisbc.com‘ <diane.roy@fortisbc.com>; ‘gas.regulatory.affairs@fortisbc.com‘ <gas.regulatory.affairs@fortisbc.com>; ‘marvshaffer@gmail.com‘ <marvshaffer@gmail.com>; ‘amy.sopinka@gov.bc.ca‘ <amy.sopinka@gov.bc.ca>; ‘roninconsult@live.com‘ <roninconsult@live.com>; ‘rsue@sfu.ca‘ <rsue@sfu.ca>; ‘bob@creativeharmonicsolutions.com‘ <bob@creativeharmonicsolutions.com>; ‘info@coastalfirstnations.ca‘ <info@coastalfirstnations.ca>; ‘rbw@bht.com‘ <rbw@bht.com>; ‘cweafer@owenbird.com‘ <cweafer@owenbird.com>; ‘jweimer@telus.net‘ <jweimer@telus.net>; ‘fredweislaw@gmail.com‘ <fredweislaw@gmail.com>; ‘lworth@aqwlaw.ca‘ <lworth@aqwlaw.ca>; ‘Cc:’ <roninconsult@live.com>; ‘bchydroregulatorygroup@bchydro.com‘ <bchydroregulatorygroup@bchydro.com>
Subject: RE: BC Hydro 2015 Rate Design Application
Dear Ms. Hamilton,
As an intervener in BCHydro’s application for Rate Design I have the following questions and comments:
11) 11.3 Minimum Reconnection Charges. I can find no justification for the introduction of the new category of fees pertaining to Manual reconnections because the customer failed to provide access to the meter. How does this service differ from the reconnection of service for those disconnected for other reasons?
Under sections 59(1 and 2) and 60(1) of the Utilities Commission Act it states that “a rate must not be unduly discriminatory”. I submit that if the Commission were to allow this fee structure that the essence of the “unduly discriminatory” portion of the Act would be breached. Further the Act states that “similarly situated customers must be treated similarly.” A newly scheduled fee that is 2.5 times higher than the closest one, and 23.33 times higher than the second fee is obviously punitive toward those to whom it is directed.
The Meter Choice program is not being considered as part of this redesign, yet this fee is directed exclusively toward those in the Meter Choice Program. I ask that the consideration of this new fee be reserved for consideration when the Meter Choice program is reviewed in its entirety.
These increased fees appear to be justified solely as a means of reducing BC Hydro’s budgetary deficiencies and bear no relationship to the actual work involved.
With regard to BC Hydro’s application for review of the Electrical Tariff, I have the following questions and comments:
11) Definitions (1.5) Radio-Off Meter. “The Smart Meter adjusted so that the meter’s components that transmit data by radio are deactivated.”
Clarification is required to include the ability of the meter’s components to receive data by radio. Customers who are paying the “opt out” fee have been assured that all wireless functions will be deactivated, and this includes any and all reception and transmission of microwave radio signals.
Including both transmission and reception of data is consistent with the definition of a Smart Meter:
| “Smart Meter | An Electricity meter that:
1. Meets the requirements set out in section 2 of the Smart Meters and Smart Grid Regulation, B.C. Reg. 368/2010, and 2. Has components that transmit and / or receive data by radio and those components are activated |
2 2) 9.5 Liability of BC Hydro: The current provision reads:
“BC Hydro will endeavour to provide a regular and uninterrupted supply of Electricity but does not guarantee a constant supply of Electricity or the maintenance of unvaried frequency or voltage and will not be responsible or liable for any loss, injury, damage or expense caused by or resulting from any interruption, termination, failure or defect in the provision of Electricity, whether caused by the negligence of BC Hydro, or its representatives or agents or otherwise, except to the extent that the loss, injury, damage or expense results directly from the willful misconduct of BC Hydro or its representatives or agents, provided, however, that neither BC Hydro, nor any of its representatives or agents is responsible for any loss of profit, loss of revenue or other economic loss, even if the loss arises directly from the willful misconduct of BC Hydro or its representatives or agents.”
As a customer of BC Hydro I would like an explanation regarding the exclusion of all liability regardless even if BC Hydro or its employees cause the damage, whether by accident, negligence or through deliberate act. I know of no other business or corporation that would be allowed to include such a waiver in a contract. Would this stand up in court? I doubt it.
3 3) Service Agreement 2.1 As it currently reads says:
“BC Hydro serves Customers solely in accordance with the Electric Tariff, including Terms and Conditions and Rate Schedules. Individuals, persons or other entities seeking to become Customers and purchase Electricity shall apply for service.”
BC Hydro is applying to remove this statement entirely.
This is the crux of the unilateral contract between BCHydro and its customers. BCHydro is held to account and limited by this Service Agreement, and only this Agreement. If this statement’s removal is allowed to stand there is no limit to BC Hydro’s power or actions.
Likewise, this being a contract between the 2 parties, if one party is not held to it, then the second party is released from commitments as well. A unilateral contract without joint commitments cannot be binding except by a monopoly that determines, perhaps arbitrarily, how and when to provide service and at what cost. To any logical person it appears that the purpose of this Tariff is to ensure that all customers of BC Hydro are treated fairly, equitably, safely, and in a manner that is consistent and reliable.
This “contract” is written by and for the benefit and protection of BC Hydro, and is amended at BC Hydro’s request. This statement, that BC Hydro must abide by the Electric Tariff, is the most important one for the protection of the customer. Without this limitation, BC Hydro will be able to act without constraint by the law, and without BC Utilities Commission oversight. The customer will be entirely at the mercy, and whim, of BC Hydro.
Sincerely,
Sharon Noble
————————————–
.From: BC Hydro Regulatory Group [mailto:bchydroregulatorygroup@bchydro.com]
Sent: December 21, 2015 3:37 PM
To: wjandrews@shaw.ca; daa@cwilson.com; support@bcpiac.com; pvla@xplornet.com; jack.buchanan@gov.bc.ca; rcarle@newwestcity.ca; roger@fsconline.com; linda@dongassociates.com; cbefire@telus.net; jejaervin@telus.net; gas.regulatory.affairs@FortisBC.com; Jo-Anne.Frank@prrd.bc.ca; mgood@midgard-consulting.com; lguenther@novuscom.net; thackney@shaw.ca; bharper@econalysis.ca; william.harper4@sympatico.ca; orion.henderson@ubc.ca; iknowjanis@shaw.ca; cdalori@shaw.ca; paul.kariya@cleanenergybc.org; hansk@telus.net; mdk@bht.com; skhan@bcpiac.com; peter_kletas@yvr.ca; mildredl@telus.net; cao@hudsonshope.ca; eplusbcgroup@gmail.com; Kieran.McConnell@vancouver.ca; pveacoordinator@gmail.com; dsnoble@shaw.ca; apeacock@telus.net; mark.pinney@capp.ca; epritchard@bcpiac.com; acpullman@shaw.ca; jquail@aqwlaw.ca; dramage@shaw.ca; emcinnesrankin@yahoo.ca; ireeve@cope378.ca; s.ridout@shaw.ca; diane.roy@fortisbc.com; gas.regulatory.affairs@fortisbc.com; marvshaffer@gmail.com; amy.sopinka@gov.bc.ca; roninconsult@live.com; rsue@sfu.ca; bob@creativeharmonicsolutions.com; info@coastalfirstnations.ca; rbw@bht.com; cweafer@owenbird.com; jweimer@telus.net; fredweislaw@gmail.com; lworth@aqwlaw.ca
Cc: roninconsult@live.com; bchydroregulatorygroup@bchydro.com
Subject: BC Hydro 2015 Rate Design Application
Notice of Regulatory Filing
BC Hydro 2015 Rate Design Application
The following has been filed by BC Hydro:
Filed Documents: Proposed Electric Tariff Amendments and Related Documents
Please note that this link will expire within seven days.
Click here to see 20151221RDAREV
Date Filed: December 21, 2015
Hard copies only available upon request.
See this link for dates – LINK TO BCUC WEBSITE
Regulatory Compliance & Filings
BC Hydro
bchydroregulatorygroup@bchydro.com
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Newsletter prepared by Sharon Noble
A: Free radicals damage DNA
B: Non-ionizing radiation creates free radicals.
C: Therefore, non-ionizing radiation can damage DNA
DAMAGED DNA CAN LEAD TO CANCER.