Re: Smart Meters safe and efficient (The News, Sept 20).
With all the talk of BC Hydro’s Smart Meter Program, I have yet to read or hear one mention of the approximately 400 meter readers in B.C. who will lose their jobs.
Mr. Murphy boasts in his letter that 350 positions in B.C. will be created for the meter installation contract. Unfortunately, he fails to mention that these positions were awarded to a private contractor, and not to the 400 who are already employed and will loose their jobs because of this program.
He also fails to mention that these 350 positions are short term until the smart meters are installed and the contract has finished. Once the program is up and running, almost everyone loses their job. How come no one mentions this?
Sadly, the meter readers have not been offered any job placement or retraining. Instead, we are expected to participate in reading the smart meters until they prove they are smart enough to replace us.
Valerie Yates, meter reader, Qualicum Beach
