Another dimension in the smart meter debate has emerged with opponents proclaiming the devices have caused their utility bills to rise without cause.
Coast Reporter received a number of complaints from local residents blaming BC Hydro for ignoring their concerns.
Sarah Vatnsdal said she was upset when her power bill was more than twice its normal rate after the installation of a smart meter on her home.
"I spoke to BC Hydro and they stated how it's because we are using more power," she said. "Now we are living with no lights, no heat, only using what is absolutely necessary, and not sure what our next bill will be."
Another resident, Shelagh Nerney, echoed Vatnsdal's worries in a letter to Coast Reporter.
"I too saw my Hydro bill suddenly increase when my smart meter was installed," Nerney said, adding that a typical two-month bill that usually ran in the neighbourhood of $150 had suddenly become $248. "I cut back on heating even more, but the next two-month bill came in at $200."
Similar stories have made their way into newspapers across the province, with British Columbians seemingly lining up to wave their utility bills in protest against the controversial devices.
One man made headlines last weekend when he claimed his $200 power bill had become a staggering $2,046 - a more than tenfold increase that he too blamed on the installation of a smart meter.
The British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) said that complaints related to billing are the most common type they receive.
Complaints related to billing and smart meter installation, of which BCUC said they had received 35, are being dealt with on an individual basis.
"There may be a number of underlying factors contributing to higher than normal bills for each customer," said BCUC spokesperson Alanna Gillis. "The Commission has not seen sufficient numbers to warrant an inquiry, and at this point the complaints are in the early stages of review."
She went on to say that an inquiry might be warranted if BCUC finds a notable trend in the complaints. Nevertheless, she said, the investigation remains at an early stage.
Of the typical findings relating to billing complaints, BCUC has found a few to be rather common.
These include annual adjustments for customers on equalized payment plans, cold weather and darker days leading to higher than usual consumption, home renovations, new appliances, errors in meter reading and a change in household patterns or demographics.
"Customers with concerns about the accuracy of their meters may request to have their meter tested by Measurement Canada," an independent federal agency, she added.
A number of rate increases have also played a significant role in the rise of energy costs in the province. In April 2009, rates went up 8.74 per cent. The following year saw another 7.7 per cent increase, and this spring a further eight per cent hike is expected.
"We have seen absolutely no connection between high bills and smart meters," said BC Hydro spokesperson Simi Heer, adding that the utility has typically received more complaints during the winter months.
Heer said the hope is that smart meters will actually "reduce the chance of bill surprises" by allowing for automated meter reading.
BC Hydro claimed a 99 per cent meter reading accuracy but added that "on rare occasions, meters can be misread."
