BC Hydro's controversial Smart Metering Program is moving ahead in Richmond, despite growing concerns about privacy and health risks.
The City of Richmond is backing the installations, voicing support for the program's energy-use reduction goals, which align with the city's own environmental commitments. Richmond is one of two guinea pig cities for the launch of the program,
"Generally, we're supportive of anything that would reduce energy use," said Ted Townsend, senior manager of communications for the City, adding he's aware that citizens have brought forward privacy concerns.
"It would be up to city council to determine if they want to take any actions."
An investigation into whether the program complies with privacy law was recently launched by B.C.'s Information and Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham, in response to the high number of privacy complaints her office has received.
It followed shortly after a statement from the Green Party of B.C. demanding an imme-diate stop to the program, referencing environmental, security and privacy concerns, as well as potential health risks.
"It sort of happened by stealth - they started going to houses in July," said Jane Sterk, leader of the Green Party of B.C., referring to the short advanced notice BC Hydro is giving homeowners prior to the installations.
And the complaints show no signs of slowing: Sterk reports having received over 100 letters from concerned B.C. citizens, including Richmondites, in the last two days.
Some of the letters are from those who suffer from EMF sensitivity and can experience headaches, tinnitus or nausea when exposed to wireless signals.
BC Hydro says the meters use radio frequencies to transmit electricity usage data four to six times a day in a signal that is less than two microwatts per square centimetre. When compared to cell phone usage, BC Hydro states that the radio wave exposure would take 20 years to amount to that of a 30-minute phone call.
The safety of the meters have been vetted by Dr. Patricia Daly and Dr. John Blatherwick, the current and previous Chief Medical Health Officers for Vancouver Coastal Health, who found no known health risks. That doesn't comfort Sterk, however, who believes the companies involved may have overlooked concerns in rushing the meters out.
"It was a way to get wealthy very quickly," she said. The Green Party of B.C. wants the installations stopped or to integrate fibre optic technology instead.
BC Hydro is complying with the privacy commissioner's investigation but is proceeding with the installations in Richmond and Prince George. Province-wide, 1.8 million smart meters are expected to be in place by the end of 2012. BC Hydro did not comment by press time.
