If I make one claim now, you will know where this piece is
going. “We hardly had any lights on and we didn’t use any electric heat, and
yes we take a shower each day.”
That’s right. You’ve got it. We have lived in our new condo/townhouse/
carriage home complex for 60 days and yesterday we received our first hydro
bill. We immediately took issue with the exorbitant total amount. A punch line
is coming but before I deliver it, get this.
Smart Meters they’re called. BC Hydro in British
Columbia, is implementing Itron smart meters to all customers by the end of 2012. They
enable hourly remote 2-way communication between the meter and the central
information gathering hub. BC Hydro promoted to consumers that smart metering
offers potential benefits including an end to estimated billing, a major source
of our collective complaints. When Christine called BC Hydro she was met with a
congenial response and then this predictable default but now superfluous
answer. “It is only an estimate.” Really? 
