EDITOR,

There is much ado about the radio frequency emanations from the new electric meters on which nothing much is agreed (“Smart meters 101,” Chief, Aug. 2). There are those who claim it harms and those who claim it does not. A much stronger claim is made against the value of the new metres for it has not been shown that they have any. Hydro’s manager of communications does not give much real information.

Data of consumption cannot give any more measure of electricity use than we have now. There is no way that consumption nor costs can be reduced with a measurement system that has already cost billions. Let us not forget the cost of eliminating the meter readers’ jobs and transferring that to the new calculation machine — another (like the new meters) piece of electronics which are given as we know to break down, unlike the old meters that through their age have proven their worth.

No one has said how the claim of thousands of gigawatts can be saved. That can only be done by using less. Many have already done their part with lower-usage lights and clotheslines. Can those who heat their houses with our clean, non-polluting electricity learn not to put the heat on when needed? For such people Hydro has already raised rates for power used beyond an arbitrary number. Presumably the new meters read as did the old ones.

As to the new electronic devices passing on specific early advice on outages, Hydro already knows when and where breakdowns happen. If more specifics are wanted, they can be had without the new meters. One wonders what the “new technology” requires that would not register on the old meters, which have proven their worth for they have done (for a long time) what is required. They measure the wattage flow. The new meters are not needed for they are an expensive hoax.

Terry Smith

Garibaldi Highlands