1) The NTP study is just the most recent that confirms that microwave radiation emitted by wireless devices cause serious and varied health problems.
“The BioInitiative Report (2014) documents nervous system effects in 68% of studies on radiofrequency radiation (144 of 211 studies). This has increased from 63% in 2012 (93 of 150 studies). Genetic effects (damage to DNA) from radiofrequency radiation is reported in 65% (74 of 114 studies); and 83% (49 of 59 studies) of extremely-low frequency studies.”
http://www.bioinitiative.org/cell-phone-radiation-study-confirms-cancer-risk/
2) Recommendations have been made to the BCUC to provide special rate consideration to those who must choose between heat and food. Want to bet that BC Hydro will use this as a justification for further rate increases? Or, perhaps, for time-of-use billing? Tell the poor to save money by not using electricity during the day….
3) BC Hydro admits power will be cut for those of us who refuse to accept a smeter. How is this legal when Meter Choices Program says that the meter “must” be replaced when it expires. Expiry occurs on Dec. 31 of the year. Harassment to put our lives, the lives of our families and our property at risk.
http://www.cknw.com/2016/06/06/smart-meters-hold-out-bc-hydro/#.V1Xyh8qtCAk.email
4) I was on Victoria radio station CFAX today, Ian Jessop’s show, and spoke primarily about the BCUC fire report. In case you’d like to listen, it’s here:
(audio 05:23-16:05 & 19:45-28:54) [BC Hydro – BCUC – Fires – Safety] Ian Jessop Show – CFAX 1070 – 2PM June 06, 2016:
– https://soundcloud.com/ian-jessop-cfax/june-6-2pm-1?in=ian-jessop-cfax/sets/ian-jessop
5) In Ontario, Hydro One’s Ombudsperson is holding a public meeting this Friday to listen to complaints and concerns. Why hasn’t our Ombudsperson listened to our concerns and complaints? I’m guessing it’s because the government has issued orders to not get involved with the Smeter Program.
“We hear a lot of stories about somebody saying, ‘My bills have gone up from such to such.’ Bring your bill with you, bring your concerns and ask the ombudsman,” El-Chantiry said. “Hopefully she will help us through this so we can understand what’s happening and what’s taking place.”
No doubt many of the complaints will pertain to the increasing rates, 2 increases in the last 6 months, more than 100% in the last 6 years. This is what has happened with smeters in Ontario.
“Our on-peak is still at 18 cents a kilowatt, and in May 2010 it was only 9.9. That’s a huge change in just six years and with the selling of Hydro One it’s just going to keep going up.”
http://www.recorder.ca/2016/06/06/apathy-to-soaring-hydro-costs-concerns-protesters
6) Despite Landis+Gyr’s effort to maintain the injunction (saying the info could affect security), a Seattle judge has ruled in favour of a man who was being sued for publishing info about smeters. As one comment, is this really an admission that personal, “sensitive” data is being gathered and the $$meter’s lack of security puts us at risk?
“Not that Landis+Gyr didn’t try to keep its restraining order alive — despite openly acknowledging that one of the two documents contained nothing worth withholding. In its final attempt to salvage its request, L+G claimed that an internet full of evildoers now has access to sensitive information that could place citizens in danger.
Agreeing with EFF, King County Superior Court Judge William Downing ruled that the previous order amounted to a prior restraint on speech that violated the First Amendment, and rescinded it along with denying plaintiffs’ request to extend it.”
In another article, L+G is reported to have said that the information being made public could result in the city suffering a cyber attack. We need to read this information!
“While Mocek and city staff tussled over the redactions, in a preemptive strike this week the contractors filed for an injunction in King County Superior Court, Washington, against the city and Mocek to ensure the unredacted versions of their proposals are withheld from the public, alleging that the release would put the city at risk of serious cyber-attack.”
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/05/25/seattle_suehawks/
Letters:
From: X
Sent: June 6, 2016
To: Patrick.Wruck@bcuc.com
Cc: andrew.weaver.mla@leg.bc.ca; john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca
Subject: BCUC Fire Report related to smart meters.
A fire report related to smart meters was to be released by the end of April this year.
Is the report available? If not, why not? What is the current status of this report and when do you expect it to be released to the public?
Hydro users have no assurance smart meters do not represent a fire and safety hazard (except from BC Hydro and the manufacturers who are clearly biased) all the while BC Hydro pressures and threatens people to replace their safe and perfectly functional analogue meters with smart meters which may burn down their house. This is a very serious issue and represents a threat to the safety of hydro users. Given that the responsibility of the BCUC is to protect hydro users, and considering the pressures BC Hydro is applying to users to take a smart meter, do you believe:
- you are acting in the best interests of the public
- your delay is potentially responsible for additional fires
- your delay in releasing the report is justifiable?
Please do not send me a note saying the matter is currently being considered by the Commission – that is useless. I would like specifics. What issues are you considering specifically that are responsible for the delay in the release of the report and when do you expect these issues to be resolved?
Respectfully,
X
Sharon Noble
Director, Coalition to Stop Smart Meters
“Cell phones will probably increase many neurological diseases and brain tumors over the next 10 to 20 years.”
~ Dr. Neil Cherry – Professor of Environmental Health Lincoln University, New Zealand