BC Hydro says homeowners must share responsibility for electrical
safety after two recent fires that followed the installation of smart
meters, but the company is offering a free fix for problems that its
workers may discover during the installation.
Fires have occurred in homes in Mission and Coquitlam this summer after installation of the new meters. BC Hydro said a cracked meter base plate, or socket, may be the cause of at least one of the fires. BC Hydro said the condition of the socket is the responsibility of
the homeowner, but
if installers find any problems with the equipment
the utility will contact the homeowner and offer to bring in a qualified
electrician to make the fix at Hydro's expense. The company said its smart meter crews have found about 1,000 sockets
that were damaged by eroded wiring, improper socket installations and
pre-existing electrical bypasses. It said the risk of a smart meter installation causing an electrical
problem is extremely low. It also said the new meters provide improved
surge protection over the old meters. The company said homeowners should use a qualified electrician when
they make any wiring changes to their homes and they should have their
electrical system checked if they notice their lights are dimming,
brightening, or flickering without apparent cause.
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