Those who wish to step into the ring on the smart meter bout can now answer the bell.
Intervener status is available to all people who want their voice heard on the prospect of smart meters being installed on West Kootenay homes.
A representative of the Kootenay chapter of Citizens for Safe Technology (CST) urged people to apply for status and express their view if they have even the slightest concern over the installation of the meters.
“What I’m concerned about is we are getting close to the intervention date but people aren’t getting the information needed on the topic,” said Cliff Paluck.
FortisBC filed an application with the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC) July 26 for the installation of around 115,000 meters in the West Kootenay and the Okanagan, thrusting the application review process—and the hot potato topic of smart meters—into the public sphere.
CST has employed the services of the chief science officer for Thermografix Consulting Corporation, Curtis Bennett, to act as an intervener on their behalf.
Paluck said the reason they did was anything a person says against the application has to be backed up by science.
“For the average Joe that is a pretty big order,” he said. “As an intervener you have to back up what you say with knowledge.”
Former Trail city councillor Norm Gabana. is one of two non professional individuals that have applied for intervener status and will be speaking before the BCUC when it announces hearing dates.
He said the commission was pretty lenient to let people intervene.
Smart meters raised concerns with CST when it was revealed they emitted a small amount of radiation in operation, said Paluck.
“This form of radiation is cumulative,” he said. “Plus, as that level of radiation builds up in our bodies over time, then we have a problem.”
Gabana said the research was inconclusive on the health costs. He was more concerned with the financial costs.
“I’m not at all opposed to smart meters, if they are economically justified,” he said.
“Is this the most economical way of doing it, then do it. If it’s not, then let’s talk about should we be doing it.”