Dear Editor:

Re: FortisBC’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure application with the BC Utilities Commission.
FortisBC applied for an advanced metering project on July 26, 2012. By covering the recent open houses, the Nov. 14 Osoyoos Times article shares with readers the public and transparent regulatory process that FortisBC and the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) are engaged in before a decision can be made on this project.
I am writing today to highlight for readers a few areas in the article where our proposed project was not accurately reflected.
First, FortisBC believes this project will provide approximately $15 million in net savings to electricity customers, helping to keep rates lower in the future. In addition to lowering the cost of running the utility, the advanced metering project will provide FortisBC customers with continuously updated billing and consumption information helping them manage their bills.
Advanced meters will also provide immediate notification of power outages (helping to restore power more effectively) and help prevent electricity theft (FortisBC estimates $3.7 million is lost annually to electricity theft).
Second, as noted in your article, there is an abundance of reports regarding perceived health risks and electromagnetic radio frequency (EMF).
According to research commissioned by FortisBC, advanced meters emit 18 times less EMF than Wi-Fi; 339 times less EMF than a baby monitor; and 16,954 times less EMF than a 1.8 minute cell phone call.
Both the provincial health officer and Health Canada have stated that advanced meters do not pose a public health risk. Finally in terms of security, our proposed project will use strong encryption when data is transmitted. Customer information such as account balance, name and address is not transmitted.
Meter readings and operational data like power outages are transmitted.
As always, the personal information received by FortisBC is protected under the British Columbia Personal Information Protection Act.
Customers who would like to learn more about our advanced metering project can visit fortisbc.com/ami.
Sincerely,

Mark Warren
director customer
service
FortisBC