The Editor,
Not too long ago, we had a well-managed fully public utility with the greenest, cheapest and most reliable power in the world. This utility made plenty of profits that helped support public schools, health care and other vital provincial services. Ratepayers were happy, plenty of folks had great jobs with liveable wages and good benefits.
Then along came the Gordon Campbell government, which decided the BC Energy Act was a great way to privatize and erode from within this efficient utility and its services.
It mandated that BC Hydro could no longer build its own projects for future power needs but had to buy expensive power from independent power producers, which are in the process of damming up about 800 B.C. rivers and creeks as quickly as they can.
Who needs fish, wildlife and wilderness? Not B.C.. Power hungry neighbours seem to matter more.
So here we are with a seriously flawed energy policy and a crumbling, privatized (in portions) utility with rapidly rising rates and most of the jobs and revenue have fled the country.
Then came the idea of forcing so called "smart" meters on every home in the province with a price tag of $1 billion. These, too, will increase hydro rates and make us sick from constantly pulsed electromagnetic radiation in the process. With zero public consultation, this program is downright undemocratic.
Give us our public utility back and forget the smart meters. There are more effective ways to conserve energy.
Laura Dupont Port Coquitlam
