Smart Meters TOO SMART for YOU?

Since the discovery of electricity, companies have competed for higher and higher market share. One such company is the BC Hydro and Power Authority utility corporation in British Columbia. They generate most of its electricity from hydroelectric facilities allowing for prices to be very low in comparison to the rest of Canada. As a crown corporation, it holds a virtual monopoly in supplying household electricity making household basically fully dependent on the company. In efforts to reduce greehouse gas emissions, BC Hydro introduced the “Power Smart” program. Part of this program included the implementation of the Smart Meter Program.

New Smart Meter

These new smart meters not only display amount of electricity used but also transmit and receive information in digital form from an in-home feedback device as frequently as 60-minute intervals. Using these new meters basically plugs people into a smart grid whereby BC Hydro can record every ongoing household activity and keep that information. Concern of privacy invasion by the government, many have questioned who exactly has access to that information. Resistance movements to stop the change have sprung up in BC and across North America. Is this simply a natural progression into a digitally computerized world or a cause for concern?