Dear BC Hydro Board Members,

We represent a coalition of Gabriola Island citizens who have voiced our democratic right to not have wireless “Smart” Meters (Wi-Fi receiver/transmitter) imposed on us against our will, when options are available.

Our requests to the government that they put a moratorium on the Smart Meter program pending discussion of options have fallen on deaf ears. This, as you must realise, is a very frustrating experience. As citizens living in a democratic society, we believe we have the right to refuse devices we don’t want attached to our homes. Similarly our protests to your frontline people, information we presume makes its way to your CEO, have, as far as we can tell, had no effect on BC Hydro’s determination to force the installation of Smart Meters on unwilling ratepayers by the end of 2012.

Understanding the board of directors of a public utility is responsible to the utility’s customers, we are, accordingly, writing you to request:

1.    That you instruct BC Hydro not to install more wireless Smart Meters on Gabriola Island, and
2.    A respectful discussion regarding alternatives for those that don’t want wireless Smart Meters. Options include monthly payments based on past usage with a debit or credit showing at the end of the year (as per past BC Hydro practice) or customer’s submission of meter reading (as in Britain).

There are citizens on Gabriola who have indicated to you, the government, and Corix that they are unwilling to accept a Smart Meter, and their position has not changed.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.