Editor:
The old electric meters we had were "totalizer" type meters, much like a water meter. They simply told us how much electricity, in total, we used over a given time period. The new smart meters are essentially the same thing, except they are read remotely several times a day. Hmm.
Aside from saving a tiny bit on the meter reading cost (the same meter reader will still come to your house if you have a gas meter) there is no benefit to the homeowner.
The BC Hydro ads tell us that smart meters will help us plan our energy use and save us money. But how they will do this is cleverly left out of the ad. So, how will they?
The answer - time-of-day billing!
With this system, we will pay a substantial premium for electricity during peak hours. BC Hydro says they have no current plans for time-of-day billing, but then why do they sneak the "help you plan your energy use" phrase into the ads?
It is all about time-of-day billing. Get prepared to pay more.
Steve Richards
Gibsons
