Dispute over smart meter may lead to power cut

A Montreal woman whose dispute with Hydro- Québec may lead to her having her power cut off says bigger are issues are at play.

Hydro-Québec told Denise Babin that it would cut off her power on Aug. 27 if she doesn’t let the utility replace her hydro meter.

As of late Monday afternoon, her power was still on, but it could be cut without further notice.

Babin has an old analog hydro meter in her home that must be replaced before Dec. 31. Hydro-Québec wants to replace it now.

Babin doesn’t want a “smart,” or connected, meter, which reports usage directly to Hydro- Québec.

She says that’s out of a “precautionary principle.”

“I think I should be able to say, because it’s going into my house, give me a chance to check it out, give me a chance to not have it yet so we can see,” she said. “I wouldn’t take a medication if I didn’t have some sort of certification and Hydro, when you ask them on the phone if it’s safe, they tell you yes, but ‘can you please send me something in writing saying that?’ and they don’t.”

While the utility has offered to replace her meter with a new nonconnected meter, Babin wants Hydro-Québec to guarantee its safety in writing and promise to have it installed by an electrician.

Babin has two hydro meters in her home — one for each floor. The other is a smart meter, which was installed in 2014. She said she had asked Hydro-Québec not to install a smart meter in her home and that a subcontractor working for the utility did the installation while she was on vacation.

She wants Hydro- Québec to remove that meter.

Babin said she has concerns that there may be negative health effects from the wireless signal emitted by the smart meters.

She said she worries that, like pesticides 40 years ago, the dangers of wireless signals may not yet be understood.

Babin said she’s also concerned that Hydro- Québec hasn’t properly explained how they will use the data gathered through smart meters and who it will be shared with.

She’s also worried about reports of fires caused by improperly installed meters.

Hydro-Québec spokesperson Serge Tsoto said the utility sent Babin a letter in May, telling her that her meter would have to be replaced. He said that letter, and two subsequent phone messages, received no reply.

Because Babin didn’t tell the utility what kind of meter she wanted, from the choices it offered, it will have to suspend her service, he said.

Babin said she sent Hydro a letter in mid-July, explaining her position.

“They’re not reading my letters, they’re not seeing that I’m willing to compromise,” she said.