Vancouver council motions on smart meters and oil liability deferred to allow public input

By FRANK LUBA, The ProvinceMay 1, 2012 4:36 PM

Vancouver council decided Tuesday to move a decision about asking B.C. Hydro to allow residents to opt out of its controversial “smart meter” program to a committee meeting Wednesday because people want to speak on the issue.  But the motion, to be presented at the planning, transportation and environment committee, is unlikely to help meter-wary residents. Cindy Verschoor, part of Hydro’s smart meter program, said Tuesday that “the bottom line is we’re not offering an opt-out program.” The reason is that customers who had accepted the meters would have to pick up the extra costs incurred because of people not taking the meters — like having a dual metering system. Verschoor said customers can choose to have the meter installed in another location — although the customer would have to bear the cost of that change. But so far nobody has done that.
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Don Quixote Note: Contrast this response given by Cindy Verschoor in Vernon as reported in an article by Richard Rolke of the Morning Star.

 http://vernonblog.blogspot.ca/2012/04/vernon-council-delays-potential-action.html
The Crown corporation is considering allowing customers to opt out of smart meters but officials state that a dual system would be costly. “The benefits would be eroded to all customers,” said Cindy Verschoor, manager of communications and public affairs.