Editor, The Times:
BC Hydro has apparently now changed the rules to allow them to disconnect customers with no notice, free of all liability even if they have disconnected someone with a medical device. Where will this end?
It was hard to believe that in a democracy such as Canada, people are being forced to accept hazardous devices that emit dirty electricity, EMF, invade peoples' privacy and are often a fire hazard; for those who have managed to keep their analogs, the financial price is in the hundreds of dollars in extortion fees – paying to keep the device away!
Then the fines for failing to provide accessibility for BC Hydro to force this exchange: $65.
Even then, BC Hydro does not cease harassment; "Measurement Canada" suddenly says the analogs are “expiring.”
Dealing with a monopoly, the people have no choice other than going off-grid, a difficult, expensive and often unfeasible option for those living in unsuitable areas.
Up to now, BC Hydro has used its trump card of threatening to cut off power, at least giving those unfortunates warning.
Now, with this new rule, BC Hydro has lost its last shred of decency or morality by allowing itself to cavalierly disconnect people whose health and even life support may depend on electrical devices, such as oxygen.
Those of us who have managed to hold on to our analogs have been deceived ("No one will be forced to have a smart meter." - Rich Coleman www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-hydro-backs-down-on-smart-meter-installation-1.1412086) and cheated out of the money we paid in good faith to keep them.
Some of us have moved to remote areas to avoid EMF, cell towers and wi-fi. Our meter has to be read manually, whether "smart" or analog. Why can't we be left in peace?
Our son is presently fighting cancer; after his chemo treatments, his immune system will be extremely weak, and we are hoping he can recuperate here, away from EMF and other forms of radiation as he gradually builds up his immunity.
There are few places left that aren't awash in EMF.
EHS (electrohypersensitive) and other people with weak immune systems need to find respite somewhere!
Petrina Gregson/Crane
Upper Clearwater, B.C.