1) All sorts of new means of storing renewable energy will offer options for getting off the grid. As a member pointed out, one of the major concerns with these systems is dirty electricity, to which many people are very sensitive. Hopefully, research into this new technology will include ways to make this energy, its storage and use clean.
“With storage and grid technologies advancing daily, renewable energy could easily and relatively quickly replace most fossil fuel-generated electricity. In Canada, Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator contracted five companies to test a number of storage systems, including batteries, hydrogen storage, kinetic flywheels and thermal systems that store heat in special bricks. Ontario is aiming to get about 50 per cent of its installed generating capacity from renewable sources by 2025.”
2) As of April 1, airlines will no longer carry lithium-ion batteries as cargo. Lithium-metal batteries, like those in ITRON smart meters, are already banned. Why are such fire hazards being put on our homes?
3)
Re moisture in the s$$meter/digital meter. After the experience of the FortisBC customer who had 3 smeters removed after they gathered water, and finally was given an analog, some persons knowledgeable about this topic told me that IF the moisture is pure condensation, without any contamination by dirt or other “non pure” water, then there probably wasn’t too much to worry about. Pure water does not make a good conductor. But Engineers have told me that digital meters (which include smeters) are not hermetically sealed because they must be allowed to breathe. They get hot and then cool (depending on weather conditions), and the expansion/contraction could cause damage. Some utility people even said that smeters have holes drilled in them so moisture drains. Any lack of sealing or a hole would allow contamination and then any water inside could cause arcing. The wisest thing is to call BC Hydro/FortisBC immediately. If they say, as I expect they will, that “this is normal”, don’t accept it. They should take action to ensure that arcing does not occur.
4) A false outage report for some BC Hydro customers. I wonder if this was a $$mart glitch.
5) In Illinois, where resistance to wireless $$meters has been strong, the city is installing new (digital?) water meters, but there seems to be hesitancy about reading them remotely:
Naperville water meters too costly to read remotely, director says by Genevieve Bookwalter – Naperville Sun – February 24, 2016:
– http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-naperville-water-meter-update-st-0226-20160224-story.html
Sharon Noble
Director, Coalition to Stop Smart Meters
Practice safe tech, don’t do it with Wi-Fi