As smart meters roll out, opt-out choice still wanted by some

By Collin Gallant on July 30, 2013.

Dana Cowan with Corix Utilities, subcontracted through the City of Medicine Hat, exchanges an old electric meter with a new Smart Meter at a Southview home on Monday.--NEWS PHOTO EMMA BENNETT

A crusader against smart meters is still hoping the City will allow homeowners to opt-out of mandatory installation of the computerized utility gauges, but the City of Medicine Hat says that if there is major opposition, it’s not hearing about it.

“It’s been really quiet,” Dean Stepanek, the project manager with the City’s utilities department, said last week.

“We’re on Facebook, Twitter, and advertising on the radio and the newspaper, and we’re not hearing (negative) feedback.”

In early April, City Council approved the blanket distribution of the meters to municipal utility customers, arguing that the meters provide more accurate readings while cutting labour costs, and can detect leakage more quickly, as well as ease disconnections and changeovers when a customer moves.

Hatter Bill Bergeson, a licensed electrician, says that he’s concerned about the health effects of radio waves used by the system to report readings, and he doesn’t want one in his home.

“I know a few people who will refuse,” said Bergeson on Monday

“I don’t want to make a big deal about this, or a legal case. I just want an option. There can be a reasonable understanding worked out between the City and people who are concerned (about the meters).”

Installation of the meters began in Redcliff and Dunmore in early July, then moved into areas of South Ridge last week.

Based on 500-home pilot project, the city estimated that about one per cent of customers might take part in an opt-out program.

The expected savings over the 20-year lifespan of the meters is expected to be $25.4 million, compared to the installation cost of about $18 million.

But, keeping some analog meters would require the City to maintain equipment inventory, meter readers and a separate billing system, making the entire project uneconomical, according to a city cost analysis.

Bergeson, however says that the cost could be cut substantially if the city were to expand the practice of using estimated reads for 11 months, then doing actual readings once per year to reconcile the account.

One City estimate determined that keeping some meters in service could cost as much as $24 per month per meter that would have to be picked up by the customer.

Energy Committee and council members felt that few would be willing to pay almost $300 per year and voted against allowing an opt-out clause.

Bergeson, however, said that class action lawsuits in other jurisdictions are signs of greater opposition.

“It’s going to keep growing and as more evidence comes out, they (the City) should have some recourse,” said Bergeson.

The local project aims to replace all 78,000 gas, water and electrical meters in the City of Medicine Hat’s service area over the next two years.

The department is hoping to complete entire areas before moving on to the next and also time installations so as not to disrupt billing periods, said Stepanek.

He also said that the City’s contractor, Corix, is working with homeowners who may want to change routing of pipes, or may be concerned about retrofitted current systems, he said.

“There are water meters that home owners have built cupboards around, for example, which is quite common,” said Stepanek. “We go out and give them some options. In most cases we’ll help with the cost.”

http://medicinehatnews.com/2013/07/news/local-news/as-smart-meters-roll-out-opt-out-choice-still-wanted-by-some/