FortisBC is continuing its advanced meter project despite strong opposition from the RDOS.
The regional district is calling on the BC government to order an immediate halt to the installation of wireless utility meters on all private residences in its jurisdiction.
But FortisBC doesn’t appear to be swayed by this and is continuing with the project, saying it has met all of the regulatory, legal and industry requirements.
Last week the regional board passed a resolution requesting that the utility’s advanced metering project be stopped, and asked that all “smart meters” already installed be removed.
Regional director Tom Siddon (Area D) authored the resolution in consultation with Dr. Malcolm Paterson, who has been researching cancer for more than 40 years.
Paterson speaks on the dangers of wireless technology, including advanced utility meters. He says brain tumors, dementia, decreased memory, immune dysfunction and behavioural impairments are all linked (by scientific studies) to electromagnetic fields.
Paterson is giving a talk at the Oliver Community Centre on June 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
More than 60 municipalities, regional districts and First Nation governments in BC have called for a “moratorium” on the mandatory installation of wireless meters in their communities (until an opt-out option is made available).
In the local board’s resolution, it states that these metres are being installed without securing any form of written consent from property owners. It also points out that FortisBC will not provide a letter of certification from a professional engineer giving assurance that such meters do not constitute a risk to health and fire safety.
The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen points to more than 230 residents who recently signed a petition calling on the board to decline approval for any installation of smart meters until safety and human health risks have been disproven by published scientific fact.
But professional engineer Mark Warren for FortisBC said the BC Utilities Commission
concluded that the advanced meter project is in the public interest and that the meters do not pose a health risk to customers.
“The EMF (electromagnetic fields) emitted from FortisBC’s advanced meters are far less than many common wireless consumer devices, including baby monitors, Wi-Fi routers and cellphones,” Warren said.
“The wireless signals from the meters are also well below the recently revised Health Canada guidelines and most other international standards.”
In regards to certification, Warren said electricity meters do not require approval from the Canadian Standards Association, noting the meters in questions are certified by Industry Canada and approved by Measurement Canada.
Warren said customers who remain concerned may select a radio-off meter, which some homeowners have opted for. Customers have the choice of either a standard wireless advanced meter or a radio-off advanced meter with the wireless signals disabled. (Homeowners are charged a fee for this option.)
But regional district chair Mark Pendergraft said the radio-off option would only make a difference if your home was the only home around.
“If you are in even a medium density residential area and your neighbours do not go with the radio-off option, I suspect that you choosing radio off will not make any difference as far as EMF exposure goes.”
Pendergraft admitted he does not have great hopes that the board’s resolution will have any impact, other than to have the health department on notice that “there could very well be long-term health consequences.”
Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff said the “smart meter” issue is definitely a hot topic.
“I certainly sympathize with people who do not wish to be subjected to the wireless radiation, but I am not sure it would do me any good to object if my neighbour had an active meter.”
Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes said FortisBC is moving forward after saying it has met the regulatory standards. And the radio-off option is there.
“They have said no to the RDOS request, and it seems that the fight may be over.”
Boundary-Similkameen MLA Linda Larson said she doesn’t see any action from the province at this time, noting the RDOS resolution likely hasn’t reached the minister yet.
“I know there is quite a controversy out there on the medical safety and I am the same as everyone else – caught between conflicting science.”
Area C (rural Oliver) director Terry Schafer said the technician who installed his new meter had little to say; he did his work quickly and left.
“I’m personally not concerned with the placement of ours as it’s two rooms away from the bedroom, but I have heard concerns from other constituents whose meter is right outside where they sleep.”
Schafer said he has heard Dr. Paterson speak on the topic.
“I feel that it’s not that smart meters are the villain but just the latest electromagnetic radiation-emitting device to add to the ‘radiation soup’ we’re all exposed to.”
The director said people are becoming more educated about their devices.
“For example, we don’t stand in front of our microwave ovens waiting for whatever to heat up, and our grandkids already know not to use their laptop or tablet in their lap.”
Schafer said a lot of people use their cellphones on “speaker” so as not to expose their brains to more radiation than necessary.
By Lyonel Doherty
