Hydro-Quebec: Smart meters now in Gatineau!

Julie Murray

Hydro-Quebec is installing next-generation electricity meters in Gatineau; these meters use advanced metering infrastructure that provides automated remote meter reading and billing based on actual consumption data.  The new meters have an LCD screen that is “regulation compliant and exceeds Measurement Canada’s precision standards,” according to the utility’s pamphlet, left in residents’ mailboxes.  These new meters are apparently needed because half of the existing meters are nearing the end of their service lives.

While the new meters appear more efficient and easier to use, some dislike them for a variety of reasons, including increased consumer costs, health concerns, fire safety, economic efficiency and hacking and privacy concerns.

 

Increased consumer costs?

 

Many argue that the new meters have sent electric bills skyrocketing.  According to the CBC, after his new meter was installed, Marc Magendie of Laval received a bill for over $1000 in January 2014, a month when he’s normally charged $500.  He reduced his electricity usage by burning wood for heat, using a programmable thermostat, doing laundry once a week and line-drying his clothes. However, he continued to receive higher bills in the spring and summer.

Hydro-Québec’s spokesperson, Isabelle Thellen, told the CBC that it has received fewer than a dozen complaints about the new meters.  The utility investigated and concluded that the smart meters were accurate.  Before the new technology, Hydro Quebec had to estimate consumption when the meter reader couldn’t gain access to indoor or otherwise inaccessible meters.  "The issue was consumption habits that had changed, or it was a case of estimated versus real consumption.  In no case was it a problem with the next-generation meter," Ms. Thellen said.

However, according to the Union des Consommateurs, hundreds of thousands of people had their electricity cut off last year.  In the nine-month period between January 1 and September 30, the group says that 51,015 homes and businesses had their power shut off, compared to around 37,000 for the entire year of 2013.  Marc-Olivier Moisan-Plante, a consumer rights advocate with the group, said several factors played a role.  “The hike in tariffs, the poor economic conditions, the very cold winter, and of course, the smart meters.”  

Cutting off the electricity can now be done remotely and no longer involves a Hydro-Quebec employee who must physically go to the customer address, a situation which could be dangerous, noted the Union des Consommateurs.  “Some person may live with necessary medical equipment.  So we think it’s (unwise) to remotely disconnect electricity,” added Mr. Moisan-Plante.  

Hydro-Quebec acknowledged that its increased rate and the very cold winter likely resulted in “service interruptions,” according to spokesperson Patrice Lavoie, who added that the utility turns off the power only as a last resort.  “We still want to make a payment arrangement with people.  We made more than 200,000 payment arrangements with our clients last year.”   The law requires Hydro-Quebec to provide customers with electricity between December 1 and March 31.

 

Increased electromagnetic pollution?

 

The group Refusons Les Compteurs is one of many arguing that smart meters, like wi-fi devices and cell phones, result in electromagnetic energy exposure, endangering human health.  The Bulletin has previously reported on Aylmerites’ concerns, for similar reasons, over a cell phone tower being located in North Aylmer.

Many believe long-term exposure to electromagnetic radio frequency energy results in trouble sleeping, reduced appetite, nausea, dizziness, migraine headaches, fatigue, concentration and memory problems, nosebleeds, and depression. 

Last February, the Quebec Coalition to Fight Against Electromagnetic Pollution organized demonstrations in Montreal, Quebec City and Sherbrooke, with the ultimate goal of having BAPE public hearings held.  

 

Defective meters leading to fires?

 

On its website, Refusons les Compteurs cites several instances in Québec, Canada and the United States where smart meters are suspected of having caused fires.

For example, a fire completely destroyed a home in Saguenay Lac St-Jean last December 5; the blaze apparently began at the back of the home, where a smart meter had recently been installed.  However, according to a Canadian Press article linked on the site, from 2011 to 2013, only 23 incidents in Ontario have been linked to smart meters, while over four million residential and small business customers in our neighbouring province have the new generation meters.

 

Are meters a wise investment?

 

Refuson les compteurs noted that Ontario’s auditor general has said that the province’s consumers overpaid for electricity by $50 billion dollars between 2006 and 2015 and that a poor cost/benefit analysis of the savings resulting from smart meters is part of the problem.  According to the report, savings from smart meters failed to reach the projected $600 million; instead, the actual amount was $512 million less.  However, the auditor’s report also noted Ontario’s electricity contracts result in higher bills because consumers must cover the cost of the gap between the price guaranteed to electricity suppliers, including American companies and owners of wind turbines and solar panels, and the market price. 

 

Hacking, privacy concerns

 

Smart meters use a wireless network that may make them vulnerable to attacks by computer hackers, some argue.  For example, a business could increase a competitor’s energy costs to put them out of business.  

Far more dangerous is the prospect of hacking the national power grid, which theoretically could be done through the smart meters.  However, there are other existing means to disrupt the system; tampering with email software led to the recent dispute between Hollywood and computer hackers, who may or may not have been commissioned by North Korea because of the film “The Interview” (which mocks the country’s leader Kim Jong Un).  Given that just about everything in modern life depends on the safe, reliable transmission of digital information, smart meters may not pose the greatest threat to our energy supply.  

Others worry that smart meters will provide information to Hydro-Quebec about which appliances are being used in a residence and at what time.