As you are aware by the controversy surrounding smart meters, it is probably safe to say that it was a bad idea. The smart meters do not save any money, have proven to be unhealthy (electromagnetic radiation and hypersensitivity), are invasive, cause fires, and can be hacked by foreign countries.
They have been removed in Saskatchewan and replaced with the old analogue meters. The B.C. Government has had to resort to orders in council to stifle organizations like BCUC who are supposed to regulate utility companies from ripping off the average citizen.
Everyone seems to have forgotten the most important thing about these meters. They have to be replaced as their useful life is only seven years. Due to the software problems, they should be replaced in five years.
Here is a solution.
Rather than look forward to replacing this $500 smart meter with another that costs the same, replace it with an analogue meter that only costs about $50 or one-tenth the cost. This solution would do away with all the problems outlined in the first paragraph. We would be like Saskatchewan and the Liberal government might even be re-elected. This could be started in the next year and the savings would be enormous.
Take the money out of the B.C. Government Water Rental Fund which amounts to over $320 million per year. The whole replacement cost would be one-tenth of the seven-year requirement and it could be started immediately.
Mike Testart