1) In the update of Nov. 29 [https://stopsmartmetersbc.com/z/2016-11-29-legacy-meters-available-on-salt-spring-where-else/], there was a map of microcells for 3 areas of the province [http://emrabc.ca/?page_id=7536]. Telus has not been forthcoming with the technical specifications of the transmitters, so we have virtually no info about the radiation that is being emitted, and the strength of the signal that will reach homes.
Below in Letters are some written to BC Safety Authority and Industry Canada asking for information about these devices which are proliferating throughout the province, often being put a few feet from bedroom windows without knowledge or permission.
2) Confirmation has been received by a member that there are still legacy meters available. Apparently, they are digital meters which had been installed prior to the smeter program, replacing expired analogs. The Meter Choices regulation in the Tariff, section 4.2.3 https://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/BCHydro/customer-portal/documents/corporate/tariff-filings/electric-tariff/bchydro-electric-tariff.pdf says that analogs will be replaced with legacy meters so long as they are available. Instead, people had their power cut or were forced to take smeters. BC Hydro has acted illegally by denying that legacy meters were available.
I would recommend that people so affected lodge official complaints to greg.reimer@bchydro.com, Patrick.wruck@bcuc.com, and the provincial Ombudsperson https://bcombudsperson.ca/complaints Those who had power cut should demand that the $700 reconnection fee be forgiven.
BC Hydro has promised to advise people in advance when they are coming to exchange meters, especially if people have notified them that they wish to turn their power off, etc. When installers come to make the exchange, you have a right to demand to see identification, ensure that the installers are qualified and work for BC Hydro, and to take photos of the entire process.
3) MICROCELLS: In the USA, the various internet and cell companies are using poles outside homes for cell transmitters, and. as people learn about them, they will begin to complain. In Kentucky, the company misled the City Council in many ways and now the city wants a moratorium.
“Hollander added that when the city and Metro Chief of Civic Innovation Ted Smith put out this request for proposal in 2013, in a response to not getting Google Fiber, “most of that was discussion of underground fiber. Nobody was envisioning towers on new 30-foot poles.”
4) HACKING: The heating system was disabled by a DDOS attacked for some places in Finland early in November. According to “webopedia” the DDOS is:
“DDoS is short for Distributed Denial of Service. DDoS is a type of DOS attack where multiple compromised systems, which are often infected with a Trojan, are used to target a single system causing a Denial of Service (DoS) attack.”
5) CYBERATTACK: San Francisco transit system was hacked last weekend, and experts warn that cyberattacks are occurring more and more often thanks to the “$$mart” technology, including smeters. In the US, no agency is in charge of security and it is very likely there is none in Canada or BC. They can’t or won’t even track smeter fires in BC. It seems that government doesn’t want to admit that there are any problems with “$$mart” or wireless devices. If they don’t look, they can’t find.
“It is critical that our increasingly “smart” and connected cities make sure systems — from smart meters to traffic lights — are segmented to limit the potential damage hackers can cause, security experts said…
There is no one government agency tasked with securing critical infrastructure systems, whose protection often falls to local governments and states, said Cabrera.”
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/11/28/cybersecurity-experts-.html
6) HACKING: After a failed attack to hack into personal routers in Germany, the pressure is being put on the makers of devices to ensure that they are safe by holding them liable for lack of security.
“Leading German politicians have called for IT and telecoms equipment makers to be held liable for cyber attacks, after a failed attempt to hijack consumer router devices caused widespread disruption for Deutsche Telekom customers.”
http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20161130/NEWS06/912310704/deutsche-telekom-hack-internet-of-things-liability This is an insurance industry link and there are many articles under the “Risk Management” tab at the top about cybersecurity and predictions of many more attacks in 2017.
7) Health Canada has sent out a warning about another product with a lithium battery that has caught fire. They say that they are concerned about safety and want to know about consumer products and cosmetics. The problem is that they do not consider wireless smeters consumer products. I believe they do consider cell and cordless phones consumer products and might consider Wi-Fi modems as consumer goods, too. I suggest we take them up on their offer and inundate them with concerns about health and safety problems caused by all of these things, including smeters. Fires and RF exposure is something HC should be involved with – but I predict them won’t take these on. How can a device that is being put on our homes NOT be considered a consumer product just because the utility owns it? I think it’s time to demand a change in accountability and definition of consumer products.
Subject: Consumer Product Safety News: 1 New Recall
Reply-To: cps-spc@HC-SC.GC.CA
Please be aware that the following recall has been posted.
Roylco Ltd. Recalls Educational Light Cube
http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2016/61210r-eng.php
***************************************************************************
Report an Incident Involving a Consumer Product or a Cosmetic
Health Canada is interested in receiving reports of incidents (health and safety complaints) or injury reports related to consumer products and cosmetics. If a health or safety incident occurs with a product you use, you should report it to Health Canada.
For more information on the incident report form, visit: www.healthcanada.gc.ca/reportaproduct
Consumer Product Safety Directorate /Healthy Environments and Community Safety Branch
Health Canada/ Government of Canada
cps-spc@hc-sc.gc.ca
Letters:
From: X
To: peter.hill2@canada.ca
Sent: November 29, 2016 7:22:13 PM
Subject: Field testing of Telus’ Microcell Transmitters in British Columbia
Dear sir,
As it is difficult to ascertain the correct person to address this email to I trust if this is not your department that you will be able to forward it to the correct person with a Cc to myself.
Telus is in the process of installing microcell transmitters throughout BC. From my understanding Industry Canada accepts a computerized software approach in calculating the RF emissions from Telus’ microcell transmitter installations in the province. Could you explain to me how this is done and how the public can be assured of Telus’ transparency in allowing them to use this “calculation” approach.
Furthermore I would like to formally request under the Freedom of Information Act the following:
- Telus has been installing their microcell transmitters in the province for a number of years now. When and where was the first actual physical field testing done?
- Who did the field test and what engineering certifications did they have to satisfy Industry Canada’s standards?
- How many field tests have been performed in this province? Where and when have these field tests been performed?
- Telus is currently installing these units at “breakneck speed”. I would like to request ALL field testing results (technical information) performed in the last year. Most notably Comox and Mission.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to your response.
= = =
From: X
To: contact@safetyauthority.ca
Sent: November 29, 2016 12:49:08 PM
Subject: Telus Microcell installations in Chemainus
Dear Sir/Madam:
Telus has been installing their microcell transmitters in Chemainus for the past 2 months. Recently BC Hydro’s linemen have been out connecting the microcells to power throughout our town.
Has Telus/BC Hydro applied for the proper permits etc. to perform this work? If they have could you send me a copies of these permits?
Can you explain the inspection process BC Safety Authority performs on each of the approximately sixty microcell connections to the power grid here in Chemainus?
Thanks you for your time.
______________________________________________________________________
From: XX
Sent: November 29, 2016
To: Sharon Noble
Subject: Re: Update 2016-11-28 US companies want to eliminate landlines, forcing everyone to get cell phones
I’d like to comment on this landline item:
Last evening at 6:15, we experienced a power failure in all of Gold River, lasting for 5 hours.
Despite the ‘smart grid’ communicating constantly, none of the ‘smart meters’ reported anything! We were the first to call into BC Hydro, that 1400 people were spending the evening in the dark! BC Hydro did not know anything about it!
[https://www.bchydro.com/safety-outages/power-outages.html]
Over $1.8 billion was spent on this ‘smart meter’ hubris, but customers still have to report power outages, by calling into BC Hydro’s office manually. But at least someone made a fortune !
Many of our neighbours have cordless DECT phones, but they shut down when there is no power.
XX