To the Editor,
Re: Smart meter fight now a last stand, B.C. Views, Jan. 24.
I must be one of those tinfoil hat people that Tom Fletcher is so eager to deride.
There are thousands of Fletcher’s tinfoil hat people, many of them intelligent, and I count myself lucky to be among them.
Because I have done some serious research on numerous websites (not just the B.C. Hydro propaganda site) I have gleaned enough information to form what many people would call an informed opinion.
Setting the health issues aside even though they are – as opposed to Fletcher’s opinion – real for many of us, there are other problems I would like to warn the public about.
To those who believe that Hydro’s position is holy and true, there is no way to argue. To those who have an open mind, I say beware.
B.C. Hydro has promised (by the same government that promised to not bring in the harmonized sales tax) it will not institute time of day billing. What hasn’t been said is there are other ways in which these fancy new smart meters can be used.
These meters will know how often and how long people use their dishwasher, their garburator or any other appliance. Knowing this, a luxury tax on the dishwasher and a surcharge or a garbage disposal fee can be added to the bill.
This will not be a charge for electricity and so bypasses the concept of the B.C. Utilities Commission.
Just wait until people try charging an electric car and see what taxes ensue from that.
Not even Fletcher’s tin foil hat will protect us from the tax man.
Alan MacKinnon
Nanaimo
