In reports about SaskPower’s CEO resigning due to the scathing report about the smart meter program, no questions are posed of the BC Hydro spokesperson who tries to muddy the waters by saying that the meters used in B.C. are a different brand than those now banned in Saskatchewan. Neither is the contention that there is no evidence of any fires caused by smart meters in B.C.
Frankly it’s time for some honest answers. There have been many meter “failures” in B.C. similar to those in Saskatchewan, but Energy Minister Bill Bennett and BC Hydro keep denying, despite official documents providing contradictory evidence. And no one is holding them to account.
Experts across North America have looked at various brands of smart meters and found they have the same design flaws. Being made of cheap, combustible plastic is one. “Failures” in Saskatchewan were blamed on moisture getting into the meter. A short circuit in a combustible meter can lead to results that would not have happened if the meter was the analog kind, which is made of glass and metal.
SaskPower was found guilty of failing to ensure that the meters were safe in its rush to begin installation and for having no oversight. The very same is true in B.C. The meters have not been certified safe, as required by law, and all oversight by BCUC or the BC Safety Authority has been banned.
It’s time we demanded, and get, an independent investigation into this program. Our safety and that of our property is just as important as it is for those living in Saskatchewan.
Sharon Noble