Gene, why is installing these meters a "stupid madness"?
Paul P (in BC)
Eugene Coyle wrote:
British Columbia rushing to follow California's stupidity. Where is
NRDC and ED when this madness is floated in the USA?
Gene Coyle
'Smart' hydro meters eyed for all homes
Devices part of B.C.'s ambitious plan to slash energy consumption
Jeff Rud, Times Colonist
Published: Wednesday, February 28, 2007
New "smart" hydro meters could be installed in all homes within the
next five years as part of the B.C. Energy Plan unveiled yesterday.
Energy Minister Richard Neufeld's ambitious strategy calls for B.C.
Hydro to meet 50 per cent of the province's new power needs over the
next 13 years through conservation measures.
Hydro president Bob Elton said this means using new meter technology
now being piloted in 2,000 homes that tells consumers how they're
using power and how much it costs.
The meters will allow Hydro to reward customers for using electricity
outside peak periods.
Once the technology is finalized, Elton said installing meters will
cost $400 million to $500 million and take between three and five years.
Another key conservation tactic will be a new B.C. building code by
2010 to mandate energy efficient construction.
The energy plan also calls for B.C. Hydro and the government to "enter
into initial discussions" with First Nations groups, the Alberta
government and other stakeholders about potential construction of the
controversial Site C dam on the Peace River.
"This plan sets the foundation for energy leadership," Neufeld said.
"It takes the province into the future, with made-in-B.C. solutions
and ensures we have a secure, reliable supply of energy at affordable
rates, produced in an environmentally responsible way."
B.C. now consumes 55,000 gigawatt hours of power a year. That is
projected to rise by 30,000 gigawatt hours over 20 years. The plan
counts heavily on voluntary conservation to cut that increase in half.
"The goal is, instead of [consumption] going up from 55,000 to 85,000,
can you go up from 55,000 to 70,000?," Elton said.
B.C. has been a net importer of electricity for five years. The plan
calls for self-sufficiency by 2016.
"We have a province where people have never had to worry about
electricity," Elton said.
"People are starting to think: 'What can I do?' Each of us can reduce
our consumption by 10 per cent, just by deciding to do it."
Highlights of the new energy plan:
- All new electricity projects to have net-zero greenhouse gas
emissions, which means they will have to be powered by clean energy
sources or must offset emissions through such measures as tree
planting or investing in other clean-energy projects.
- All coal-fired generation projects to have zero emissions.
- 90 per cent of total hydro generation to remain clean or renewable.
- Hydro to request proposals for using sawmill waste, forest wastewood
and pine beetle wood for power generation.
- A new standing-offer program to allow independent companies to sell
up to 10 megawatts of power to Hydro.
- Government to develop a B.C. biodiesel and ethanol industry by
requiring five per cent minimum mix of both by 2010.
- No nuclear power generation.
Environmentalists praised the plan for setting tough conservation
targets and committing to sustainable energy. Even NDP critic John
Horgan was optimistic.
"I was pleased with the conservation targets," Horgan said. "The
challenge as we go from here is how do we meet those targets, what
incentives are there for the public to buy energy efficient
appliances, are there going to be tax credits and tax savings?"
Kathryn Molloy of the Sierra Club raised concerns that subsidies for
the oil and gas industry remain higher than for conservation or
alternative energy.
She was also disappointed the plan didn't deal with transportation.
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2007
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