No opting out of smart meters: aldermen suggest .
Friday, 25 January 2013 00:00 Collin Gallant
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A smart meter is shown in the basement of a Medicine Hat residence.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
COLLIN GALLANT
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com Twitter: CollinGallant
There should be no way to opt out of having an automated utility meter, even temporarily, if the City of Medicine Hat goes ahead with a city-wide system, two aldermen told a city committee on Thursday.
City staff presented the regular Energy Committee meeting with a plan to persuade reluctant ratepayers and impose fees associated with the costs of operating both "smart meters" and traditional gauges for two years while the city installs the system.
But two of the three aldermen on the committee voted against the measure saying that if the city switches "it should be right across the board" to avoid costs and problems associated with operating two systems.
"Automated metering is the way of the future," said Ald. Phil Turnbull. "We have to provide utilities, that's our duty, and we have to provide those to the standard of the industry."
Based on results from a 500-home pilot project, the city expects that only one per cent of households would stick with current mechanical meters.
But, argued city officials, servicing two kinds of meters would force the city to carry two sets of inventory and maintain a small number of meter readers, plus possibly remove previously installed automated meters when properties change hands.
"It's going to cause too many issues," said committee member Ald. Jeremy Thompson. "I believe there should be no opt-out clause. Period."
The original staff proposal was to charge hold-out ratepayers $24 per month during a two-year transition period, during which time the city would make its case that the meters are safe and ensure privacy, but the process could ultimately lead to disconnection for homeowners who still refuse.
"Finally we would have to work with the bylaw to make sure everyone was complying," said Dean Stopanic, the smart meter project manager with the city's utility department.
The city is currently monitoring a 500-meter pilot project that began last winter, and eventually, would install in every home in the city, plus customers in Redcliff and a number of others at a total cost of $18 million.
The city states that the program will pay for the capital cost in savings over eight years related to streamlined accounting, better leak detection, and lower maintenance costs.
The issue has been dogged with controversy in other jurisdictions, and even in Medicine Hat where a vocal minority says there are safety concerns and health issues related to the radio emitting devices, and the plan will lead to extra billing and leaves the city and citizens open to breaches of privacy.
Information was presented along with the plan to assure Hatters that information is as safe as tax and other information that the city already collects, and the health risks are negligible.
Stopanic said studies show the transmitters only emit a small amount of radio waves for milliseconds each day – four times less than a baby monitor or cellphone and 14 times less than a remote car starter, for example.
"This technology isn't new," said Stopanic. "There have been 500 studies over 17 years that have concluded that radio frequency does not cause cancer or threaten human health."
City staff members will now update the business model and present it as part of the overall approval motion that could go before city council by the end of February.
"No other utility in the province offers an opt-out clause, or in British Columbia," said committee chair Ald. Ted Clugston.
"It makes sense, and anybody who complains about this doesn't know the facts. Once you have the facts you realize there are not safety or privacy concerns."
Friday, 25 January 2013 00:00 Collin Gallant
Print PDF
.
A smart meter is shown in the basement of a Medicine Hat residence.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
COLLIN GALLANT
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com Twitter: CollinGallant
There should be no way to opt out of having an automated utility meter, even temporarily, if the City of Medicine Hat goes ahead with a city-wide system, two aldermen told a city committee on Thursday.
City staff presented the regular Energy Committee meeting with a plan to persuade reluctant ratepayers and impose fees associated with the costs of operating both "smart meters" and traditional gauges for two years while the city installs the system.
But two of the three aldermen on the committee voted against the measure saying that if the city switches "it should be right across the board" to avoid costs and problems associated with operating two systems.
"Automated metering is the way of the future," said Ald. Phil Turnbull. "We have to provide utilities, that's our duty, and we have to provide those to the standard of the industry."
Based on results from a 500-home pilot project, the city expects that only one per cent of households would stick with current mechanical meters.
But, argued city officials, servicing two kinds of meters would force the city to carry two sets of inventory and maintain a small number of meter readers, plus possibly remove previously installed automated meters when properties change hands.
"It's going to cause too many issues," said committee member Ald. Jeremy Thompson. "I believe there should be no opt-out clause. Period."
The original staff proposal was to charge hold-out ratepayers $24 per month during a two-year transition period, during which time the city would make its case that the meters are safe and ensure privacy, but the process could ultimately lead to disconnection for homeowners who still refuse.
"Finally we would have to work with the bylaw to make sure everyone was complying," said Dean Stopanic, the smart meter project manager with the city's utility department.
The city is currently monitoring a 500-meter pilot project that began last winter, and eventually, would install in every home in the city, plus customers in Redcliff and a number of others at a total cost of $18 million.
The city states that the program will pay for the capital cost in savings over eight years related to streamlined accounting, better leak detection, and lower maintenance costs.
The issue has been dogged with controversy in other jurisdictions, and even in Medicine Hat where a vocal minority says there are safety concerns and health issues related to the radio emitting devices, and the plan will lead to extra billing and leaves the city and citizens open to breaches of privacy.
Information was presented along with the plan to assure Hatters that information is as safe as tax and other information that the city already collects, and the health risks are negligible.
Stopanic said studies show the transmitters only emit a small amount of radio waves for milliseconds each day – four times less than a baby monitor or cellphone and 14 times less than a remote car starter, for example.
"This technology isn't new," said Stopanic. "There have been 500 studies over 17 years that have concluded that radio frequency does not cause cancer or threaten human health."
City staff members will now update the business model and present it as part of the overall approval motion that could go before city council by the end of February.
"No other utility in the province offers an opt-out clause, or in British Columbia," said committee chair Ald. Ted Clugston.
"It makes sense, and anybody who complains about this doesn't know the facts. Once you have the facts you realize there are not safety or privacy concerns."
look at the future there is no guaranty this new technology would work in the favour of the households. When you know darn well wireless system can and do control systems. All of a sudden your heat is too low and you didn't even touch the thermostat. Can't even begin to think how these bums will keep increasing the charges on the wireless system. But you can bet that the city hall will have there silly heads buried in the sand on this issue. think long and hard if you have got lots of money go ahead but you better spend sometime thinking about the least of us. Pay attention.
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