To the Editor,
Re: Reducing power use will be very difficult, Letters, Dec. 24.
Rod Hancock seems defeated, even though he has begun making progress in terms of reducing his power bill.
Perhaps if he learns that he has some facts wrong he will feel more hopeful.
The new electronic thermostats he just installed, while likely saving him five per cent or more on his heating bill, will work just fine with the new smart meters. Indeed, everything will.
The insulation he added to his attic, perhaps saving another five to 10 per cent on his heating bill, will also help to keep the summer heat away.
The smart meters will open the door for time-of-use rates, but no plan is in place in B.C. for such a program. It may be offered as an option for those able and wise enough to take advantage of the lowered prices.
The B.C. trials have, he will be glad to know, offered the reduced power rate not only at night, but also in the middle of the day and on weekends. His Christmas turkey could be steaming hot in time for an early evening dinner.
Lastly, any power we save will result in less of a need for new (far more expensive) power being purchased by B.C. Hydro.
Consequence? Power rates will not rise as quickly. This is especially important for fixed and low-income folk.
In other words, investing in conservation measures now has long-term and very positive outcomes for all of us.
This is especially true for those like Hancock and Nanaimo’s Belbin family (saving fully 50 per cent of total energy usage) – they will have money left over for even more energy-saving alterations.
Hope, not defeat, awaits such people in 2012.
Ian Gartshore
Nanaimo
