David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @Kathryn98967631 and 49 others
Methinks folks should try to imagine the Irving Clan embarking on such a dumb business plan then ask yourself why their lawyer changed his mind N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/01/smart-meter-critics-change-tone-on-nb.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-smart-meters-eub-hearings-1.5436874
NB Power's smart meter plan gets major boost with critical endorsements
Stakeholders make final arguments for and against $92M plan before EUB
· CBC News · Posted: Jan 22, 2020 7:09 PM AT
Public intervener Heather Black, who was cited in the EUB's 2018 decision that rejected NB Power's smart meter plan, came out in favour of the utility's new business proposal for the project. (Roger Cosman/CBC)
Two key players who helped sink NB Power's application for smart meters two years ago told the Energy and Utilities Board they are satisfied the utility has sufficiently improved its proposal and individually offered critical endorsements of the new plan.
"Our own assessment is that even when tested, the business case advanced remains positive," said J.D. Irving Ltd. lawyer Christopher Stewart about NB Power's $92-million application to buy and deploy advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), including 360,000 smart meters.
JDI and public intervener Heather Black both opposed a similar NB Power application two years ago and were each cited in the EUB's 2018 decision that rejected the project.
But during closing arguments Wednesday wrapping up eight days of hearings into a renewed application, each said the utility had improved the quality of its proposal enough to warrant approval.
J.D. Irving lawyer Christopher Stewart, who was critical of the previous business case, said the revised version is 'positive.' (Roger Cosman/CBC)
"Our criticisms in the last AMI proceeding were primarily centred on our view that the business case lacked detail on the primary benefits and lacked independent expert validation," said Stewart. "NB Power has sufficiently addressed these perceived deficiencies in this application."
Black agreed and said she was satisfied by the entirety of the evidence and expert testimony that supported it.
"NB Power has proven that it has a positive business case," Black said. "In any scenario that the evidence can bear, the business case is positive."
NB Power's case for smart meters
NB Power considers the adoption of smart meters and the technology that supports them to be critical to its future and during the last two weeks put effort into presenting more convincing evidence for that position than it did in 2018.The utility built a business case that showed the investment would make, not lose, money and it hired a string of experts to independently test its plans.
In a 94-minute closing address to the Energy and Utilities Board, NB Power lawyer John Furey methodically recapped the costs and benefits detailed in the business case supporting the AMI investment and tried to assure board members the utility would make the project work.
NB Power lawyer John Furey broke down the costs and benefits of the utility's $92-million smart meter plan during final arguments before the EUB on Wednesday. (Roger Cosman/CBC)
"It is in the best interest of NB Power, its customers and all stakeholders that the deployment of AMI is a success and that costs are contained within approved budgets and all benefits are achieved."
Smart meters are capable of two-way communication with the utility, allowing them to be read remotely several times an hour rather than in person and manually once a month.
NB Power says that will generate 16 separate financial benefits in the short term that will more than pay for the $92 million upfront investment.
More importantly, it argues the meters will open up a variety of future innovations in pricing and service not possible without the technology, including time-varying rates where electricity can be priced at different amounts during different times of the day.
Budgets scrutinized
During hearings, various interveners tested NB Power's budgets and projections for the project and although some weaknesses were found, none were large enough to kill the project a second time, according to Stewart."Broadly speaking, the quantified benefits asserted are within the realm of reasonableness and sufficiently supported by independent evidence," said Stewart. "Costs are generally supported within a reasonable level of specificity and also supported by acceptable evidentiary foundation.
"The interveners and the utility might debate whether the precise quantification of a particular benefit should be x or y or whether an assumption is conservative as opposed to merely reasonable, but frankly that's the natural consequence of a proposal of this type."
Bourque said he considers the devices to be a fire hazard based on problems experienced in Saskatchewan several years ago.
Richard expressed concern about the long-term health effects of radio frequencies constantly emitted by the meters as they communicate data back to NB Power.
The utility has said consumers concerned about smart meters can refuse to accept them but will be billed for having their meters read manually at a cost estimated to be $4 per month.
A decision from the EUB on the application is not expected for several weeks.
67 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
"Endorsements
were not unanimous. Individual interveners Gerald Bourque and Roger
Richard each urged the EUB to reject the meters as unsafe"
Methinks a lot of folks should thank Dr. Roger Richard and Gerald
Bourque for going before the EUB and doing their best to speak in
defense of our rights and interests AGAIN N'esy Pas?
Ben Haroldson
Content disabled
Go figure, never thought that would happen. It unfolded like scripted play with a bad ending.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Ben Haroldson: The fat lady ain't sung yet
Roy Kirk
Might
be time to hire an electrician to put put a low-paid filter between the
meter and the loads in house. But that'll be out of customers pocket,
not nbpowers, so it won't hurt their'business' case.
David Amos
Reply to @Roy Kirk: Good luck with that
Steve Cohen
Reply to @Roy Kirk: a
low-paid filter? Please describe what that is. Anything installed
beyond the meter is still metered. Nothing can cause the meter to "see"
or measure energy differently than the load consumes.
Roy Kirk
Reply to @Steve Cohen: spell correct problem. low-pass. Knock out the spike that apparently give false counts on the meter.
Steve Cohen
Reply to @Roy Kirk:
firstly, spikes or transients don't contain any amount of energy (which
is power x time) since they have insignificant time periods. But even
so, installing a filter after the meter doesn't change power flow
through the meter, only the current path at the filter. Please rest
assured, Measurement Canada is on top of this stuff, and they must
certify all meters approved for sale in Canada.
Roy Kirk
Reply to @Steve Cohen: Heres a link to the story. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/hardware/millions-of-smart-meters-may-over-inflate-readings-by-up-to-600-percent/
Seems to me a low-pass filter tween meter and load would knock out the spikes that are causing the false readings.
Seems to me a low-pass filter tween meter and load would knock out the spikes that are causing the false readings.
David Amos
Reply to @Roy Kirk:
Apples and oranges fellas The "Not So Smart" meters you are debating are
gonna cost us all 100 million loonies Get It"
Shawn McShane
Has everyone replaced their light bulbs with LEDs or other energy saving devices? They are not compatible with smart meters:
-Smart meters are giving readings up to six times higher than the energy consumed by households when connected to energy-saving light bulbs, according to scientists. They produce a large amount of noise in electrical current waveforms, which disrupt the smart meter sensors tasked with recording power consumption.
-University of Twente and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
Steve Cohen
Reply to @Shawn
McShane: the phenomenon you refer to is a problem with digital meters
that calculate power and energy based on digital sampling as opposed to
the old analog meters which used continuous measurement to accumulate
kW-hrs on the five dials. So it's not really a smart meter issue, but a
digital metering issue. And digital meters are in use now and have
been for more than ten years. However, Measurement Canada, the Federal
body that regulates meter accuracy for electrical, gas, gasoline,
weights and measures, etc., is the body responsible to make certain this
is not an issue, not the Utility. I'm not promoting smart meters but I
do know about metering.
Shawn
McShane
Reply to @Steve Cohen:
Homeowners say hydro bills doubled with new smart meters | CBC
Hydro-Québec vowed its smart meters would save the utility millions. Magendie got his first surprise in January — when he received a bill for more than $1,000. He normally pays between $450 and $500 for that same time period. “I've got a programmable thermostat … Ontario investigates similar complaints, 8,000 complaints...
Homeowners say hydro bills doubled with new smart meters | CBC
Hydro-Québec vowed its smart meters would save the utility millions. Magendie got his first surprise in January — when he received a bill for more than $1,000. He normally pays between $450 and $500 for that same time period. “I've got a programmable thermostat … Ontario investigates similar complaints, 8,000 complaints...
David Amos
Reply to @Shawn
McShane: Now you know their business plan and it ain't got nothing to do
with ethics or percentage rates. Just a meter that claims you bought
more than ya did. At least at the grocery store you can count you bean
cans and compare it to the receipt and if you don't like the response
you can always go to another store. However you need power and NB Power
is the only game in town with a brand new plan on how to to get more out
of you while violating your privacy. for the benefit of the Yankees who
are pushing for more data world wide.
Steve Ryan
Reply to @Shawn McShane:
That is entirely false.
My house has a smart meter and all lights are now LED, as well we have an energy star rated heat pump. This is also the case with pretty well everyone we know.
LEDs are compatible with smart meters.
Our monthly hydro bill has gone down since switching to LEDs.
That being said, I don't agree with a lot of the cost saving arguments for smart meters.
That is entirely false.
My house has a smart meter and all lights are now LED, as well we have an energy star rated heat pump. This is also the case with pretty well everyone we know.
LEDs are compatible with smart meters.
Our monthly hydro bill has gone down since switching to LEDs.
That being said, I don't agree with a lot of the cost saving arguments for smart meters.
David Amos
Go Figure
IN THE MATTER OF an application by NB Power for a General Rate
Application for approval of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project
(“AMI”)
Board Reference: Matter 452
SUBMISSION OF NEW BRUNSWICK POWER CORPORATION
(“NB Power”)
January 22, 2020
125 Although the issue of jurisdiction of the Board to order a delay
or postponement of a capital project after it has been found prudent
and approved under section 107 is important, NB Power submits that it
is equally important to consider the practical implications of such an
action by the Board.
126. If the Board approves this application, the contracts NB Power
has already signed with suppliers, and is negotiating with others,
will come into force and the AMI project will be underway. There is no
provision in these contracts for post-startup delays due to additional
regulatory requirements. Entire organizations would need to be stood
down upon such a delay or postponement, if ordered by the Board.
Although NB Power has not quantified the financial impact of such a
delay, there would be a financial impact that would ultimately be
passed on to our customers, as well as a schedule impact that would
further delay the realization of benefits to our customers.
Ben Haroldson
Content disabled
Does
anyone know who the company that sells the meters is, who is on their
board, who in management at nbp is related to any of those board
members, and who the lobbyists for this "project" are?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Ben Haroldson: Asked and answered earlier
David White
One more reason to hate the management @ NB Power even more, if that's even possible.
Shawn
McShane
Reply to @David White: We don't vote for them. One more reason to quit voting for the same 2 parties over and over.
David Amos
Reply to @Shawn
McShane: Years ago I laughed when the Green Party Leader who can't be
named in this domain sang NB Power's praises and stated that he was all
for "Not So Smart" meters. He also used Joseph de Maistre's words on
Rogers TV and I laughed so hard so I saved it and put it on my YouTube
channel.
Methinks many folks would disagree with wiseguys who claim that we get the governments we deserve. N'esy Pas?
Methinks many folks would disagree with wiseguys who claim that we get the governments we deserve. N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: Even I have said it too https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tipHN1HAHI8
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: Go figure why I say it too https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxuft6s-8Lk
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: BINGO
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: YO Mr Jones Thanks for proving that we get the governments you deserve
Marc Bourque
When will somebody finally understand, when the citizens of this province say no ,we mean NO!!!!
David Amos
Reply to @Marc
Bourque: Methinks that our politicians and their bosses in the Irving
and McCain Clans plan to deal with that issue sometime around the 12th
of Never N'esy Pas?
Chantal LeBouthi
Ontario's smart meter experiment a fiasco. Remember
David Amos
Reply to @Chantal LeBouthi: What about Saskatchewan?
Shawn McShane
Reply to @Chantal
LeBouthi: Same with Quebec: Homeowners say hydro bills doubled with new
smart meters | CBC Hydro-Québec vowed its smart meters would save the
utility millions.
Linda Christie Hazlett
I wonder who is going to supply the 360,000 smart meters to NB?
"J.D. Irving Ltd. lawyer Christopher Stewart about NB Power's $92-million application to buy and deploy advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), including 360,000 smart meters."
David Amos
Reply to @Linda
Christie Hazlett: Methinks you should ask Gaëtan Thomas or Siemens Rest
assured Higgy and Minister Mikey Holland are playing dumb for obvious
reasons N'esy Pas?
Siemens and NB Power strike smart grid pact
Siemens will employ 40 people in a new research centre
CBC News · Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:00 AM AT
"Siemens Canada and NB Power have struck an agreement that will see the global technology company create a 10 year energy road map for the province.
The new partnership also sees the company open a new research and development centre in Fredericton.
Gaëtan Thomas, the president and chief executive officer of NB Power, said the use of the smart grid technology will help customers in the future.
"This relationship will be long lasting, and will modernize the New Brunswick electricity system and the way our customers view their own electricity consumption. It will also provide long-term benefits to our customers," Thomas said in a statement.
NB Power says the deal will help reduce generation costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
What NB Power pays Siemens will "depend on the scope of work," according to the utility.
The precise nature of the programs are still being worked out between the two companies.
Siemens will establish a Smart Grid Centre of Competence in Fredericton, which will employ 40 people, according to the company.
Invest NB will be subsidizing a portion of those jobs, but CEO Robert MacLeod would not comment on how much the deal would cost taxpayers, saying that figure is still being finalized.
Invest NB will only subsidize the 15 to 20 information technology jobs, not the engineering positions involved in running the grid.
NB Power will pay Siemens for that service, which could cost millions of dollars per year."
Siemens and NB Power strike smart grid pact
Siemens will employ 40 people in a new research centre
CBC News · Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:00 AM AT
"Siemens Canada and NB Power have struck an agreement that will see the global technology company create a 10 year energy road map for the province.
The new partnership also sees the company open a new research and development centre in Fredericton.
Gaëtan Thomas, the president and chief executive officer of NB Power, said the use of the smart grid technology will help customers in the future.
"This relationship will be long lasting, and will modernize the New Brunswick electricity system and the way our customers view their own electricity consumption. It will also provide long-term benefits to our customers," Thomas said in a statement.
NB Power says the deal will help reduce generation costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
What NB Power pays Siemens will "depend on the scope of work," according to the utility.
The precise nature of the programs are still being worked out between the two companies.
Siemens will establish a Smart Grid Centre of Competence in Fredericton, which will employ 40 people, according to the company.
Invest NB will be subsidizing a portion of those jobs, but CEO Robert MacLeod would not comment on how much the deal would cost taxpayers, saying that figure is still being finalized.
Invest NB will only subsidize the 15 to 20 information technology jobs, not the engineering positions involved in running the grid.
NB Power will pay Siemens for that service, which could cost millions of dollars per year."
Shawn McShane
Reply to @David
Raymond Amos: The culture of bribery has further grown up inside
Siemens...2014: According to the indictment, "Siemens systematically
paid bribes to Israel Electric Corporation executives so they would
utilize their positions in order to favor and advance the interests of
Siemens...
.
David Peters
Reply to @Linda Christie Hazlett:
Great point! Follow the money.
Using gov't regulation to force a demand for a product/service is all to common, imo.
Great point! Follow the money.
Using gov't regulation to force a demand for a product/service is all to common, imo.
Randy McNally
Content disabled
Very
Interesting... I came directly to the comments section expecting for
once that there would be very little disagreement among commentors and
so far I have not been disappointed because most NB'ers hold a
collective disgust for this faux corporation.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Randy
McNally: Methinks its par for the course as the politicians who oversee
NB Power remain apathetic for their own greedy reasons N'esy Pas?
Randy
McNally
Content disabled
Whatever
NB Power says or the CBC reports this is not being done for the benefit
99% of customers/taxpayers. NB Power does nothing to serve the public
without serving themselves in the process.
Toby Tolly
Content disabled
Reply to @Randy McNally:
Its the cbc way
Its the cbc way
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Toby Tolly: YUP
Stephen Robertson
NB Power has lost credibility with the public. The public has said here and in many other venues that they don't want smart meters because they don't believe the business case and see it as an opportunity for NBP to charge more, be it because of a more accuracy or to cover the cost of the meters. It is also a way to get rid if the relatively low paid meter reading contract employees. We don't want it, but I guess we're going to get it....Again ...you know where. Thanks
David Amos
Reply to @Stephen
Robertson: Methinks folks should try to imagine the Irvring Clan
embarking on such a dumb business plan then ask yourself why their
lawyer changed his mind N'esy Pas?
David Peters
No one is on the rate-payers side on this file. No voice and no choice.
David Amos
Reply to @David Peters: There were two
David
Peters
Reply to @David Raymond Amos:
It's one thing to out work the competition, or come up with more innovative/efficient ways of providing a service...but to eliminate competition altogether, like in so many sectors in NB...we end up with expensive side-shows like this one. To make it look like there is some kind of consumer/taxpayer protection.
Imo, it's a charade.
It's one thing to out work the competition, or come up with more innovative/efficient ways of providing a service...but to eliminate competition altogether, like in so many sectors in NB...we end up with expensive side-shows like this one. To make it look like there is some kind of consumer/taxpayer protection.
Imo, it's a charade.
Randy McNally
Reply to @David
Peters: We have no voice in most things. Governments are handmaids(to
be kind) for the corporate/banking establishment. Get used to it!
David
Peters
Reply to @Randy McNally:
It's not safe to get used to something that is not sustainable. Makes more sense to oppose monopolistic practices and the resulting anarchy, imo.
It's not safe to get used to something that is not sustainable. Makes more sense to oppose monopolistic practices and the resulting anarchy, imo.
BruceJack Speculator
Reply to @David
Peters: Some studies were done with rats over a 10 year period, using RF
(radio frequency) exposure over the whole body to measure effect of RF
radiation from cell phones. Smart meter RF is apparently similar but on
average LOWER power levels than cell phones because people don't hold
the smart meter to their ear or carry it in pocket.
The power level used in the research varied from equivalent to a maximum from a cell phone to about 4 times as much as that maximum. Some rare forms of cancer were observed but on average the male rats lived LONGER.
Instead of trying this RF scare approach to kill the idea why did no one do any real analysis of the plan? Most of us believe the whole idea from NBP is "load shifting" to encourage users to use more power in "off-peak" times of day. For a residential consumer to do "load shifting", apart from simple changes like using the clothes dryer at night or cooking at night probably means buying and installing some expensive equipment like smart thermostats or timer to turn water heater on and off and not bathing at normal times of day. Why has none of that been explained to us? Heather Black? Private interveners?
The power level used in the research varied from equivalent to a maximum from a cell phone to about 4 times as much as that maximum. Some rare forms of cancer were observed but on average the male rats lived LONGER.
Instead of trying this RF scare approach to kill the idea why did no one do any real analysis of the plan? Most of us believe the whole idea from NBP is "load shifting" to encourage users to use more power in "off-peak" times of day. For a residential consumer to do "load shifting", apart from simple changes like using the clothes dryer at night or cooking at night probably means buying and installing some expensive equipment like smart thermostats or timer to turn water heater on and off and not bathing at normal times of day. Why has none of that been explained to us? Heather Black? Private interveners?
David Amos
Reply to @David
Peters: What have you done about the charade other than whine about it?
At least my friends and I intervened in several matters and were dully
recorded in the public record of the EUB CORRECT?
Brad
Little
I
would like to wish Heather Black an early congratulations on her new,
high paying job at NB Power. To be announced soon. There will be a new
public intervener at the next EUB hearing. Mark my words.
David Amos
Reply to @Brad
Little: Methinks folks would be amazed at how much money is squandered
by the public intervener as she helps NB Power do us in Black's legal
fees alone would astound most folks N'esy Pas?
Alex Butt
NB
power is so grossly mismanaged. They have completely lost sight of what
their mandate should be and now are just an overpaid boys club that
makes money for the province and the select few. They raise the rates
every chance they get, provide less than reliable and not clean energy
for a ridiculous price that the government then taxes just to get more
out of our pockets. There is no oversight or consequences for their
failures and mistakes that cost us billions.
Mr thomas is forcing these so called smart meters down our throats
and the eub is putting on a big show to pretend that they actually care
about us!! What a complete embarrassment!
David Amos
Reply to @Alex Butt: As I said many times Welcome to the circus
Greg Smith
I wonder how much they got paid to change their tune?
David Amos
Reply to @Greg Smith:
Check out the Irving Clan's big score byway of NB Power's Large
Industrial Renewable Energy Purchase Program which was dreamt up by
Higgy's buddy Alward in 2011.
Brad Lane
Too bad it's so expensive to go off grid. Would love to tell them where to shove their smart meters.
David Amos
Reply to @Brad Lane: Me Too
Drake Ramore
But what about my imaginary illness that makes me allergic to electromagnetism.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Drake Ramore: What about you downloading transcripts and
start reading before embarrassing yourself in public? Or is that your
real name?
David Amos
Reply to @Drake Ramore: Oh My My
Chantal LeBouthi
Nb power cannot force smart meter on anyone
David Amos
Reply to @Chantal LeBouthi: True
David Amos
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Not yet anyway
Wayne Mac Arthur
The only problem with the smart meter is NB Power the leader has lost the public trust and the rest must live with it.
David Amos
Reply to @Wayne Mac Arthur: Methinks "Not So Smart" meters have problems no matter who the CEO of NB Power is N'esy Pas?
Terry
Tibbs
A peon knows they are in trouble when it seems that those doing the *thinking* are legends in their own minds.
It used to be, that those paying got to do the saying, but not in this case.
This peon wonders how smart meters like the brown outs, and the
occasional over voltage conditions, that exist in the NB Power grid? I
know my home electronics isn't too fussy about it.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry
Tibbs: Methinks most peons working within NB Power and elsewhere
understand that he with the gold makes the rules They also helped to
elect Higgy and the PANB by a slim margin much to Jacky Boy Keir's
chagrin N'esy Pas?
Terry
Tibbs
Reply to @David Raymond Amos:
I'm *thinking* it wouldn't take much to make a Faraday cage to hang over ANY smart meter, effectively making it pretty un-smart, bordering on moronic.
I'm *thinking* it wouldn't take much to make a Faraday cage to hang over ANY smart meter, effectively making it pretty un-smart, bordering on moronic.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: I Double Dog Dare you to try it
Terry
Tibbs
Reply to @David Amos:
Don't you worry.
Don't you worry.
Aaron Allison
"The utility has said consumers concerned about smart meters can refuse to accept them but will be billed for having their meters read manually at a cost estimated to be $4 per month."
The NB Power Employment reads my meter from his truck on my road. EUB to shut this down and quick.
Time for the AG to do a Forensic Audit into NB Power.
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @Aaron Allison:
This is "breaking news". NBPower has NEVER done a meter reading at my house 2 months in a row.
This is "breaking news". NBPower has NEVER done a meter reading at my house 2 months in a row.
David Amos
Reply to @Aaron Allison: Methinks everybody knows that I have been demanding that for years N'esy Pas?
Fred Sanford
Too bad NB Power would be transparent about their motives.
https://www.hydroone.com/rates-and-billing/rates-and-charges/electricity-pricing-and-costs
David Amos
Reply to @Fred Sanford: Dream on
John Haigh
Content disabled
So, did they all get a random bonus cheque in the mail or what?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @John Haigh: Brown paper bags
Yvon Landry
Smart
meters Vs smart management maybe. Can't convince the utility board that
their increase rate are required and justified, so they want to spend
92 million to achieve the same result. get real and get rid of useless
lawyers and use real accountants.
Yvon Landry
We need reliable
power grid in this province, Specially with the effect of climate
change. Quebec is not going to help us with that. Why are we wanting
for the Saint John River valley residents to drown before moving ahead ?
We need to get the private sector to get involve as partners. They
will have or find a solution if given a steak in the return on
investment.
David Amos
Reply to @Yvon Landry: I concur
Fred Brewer
Since NB Power does not know how many will "opt out" of smart meters, how can anyone say the business case remains positive? This is a huge unknown. I will completely lose faith in the EUB if they approve smart meters without first demanding that NB Power quantify this huge unknown.
David Amos
Reply to @Fred Brewer: Cry me a river
David Amos
Methinks the fix is in and at least the Green Party is gonna be Happy Happy Happy N"esy Pas?
Ben Haroldson
Content disabled
cmon amos, whereyat
Johnny Jakobs
Content disabled
Reply to @Ben Haroldson: moderated
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: YUP Bigtime yesterday over Bastarache BS
David Amos
Content disabled
"Endorsements
were not unanimous. Individual interveners Gerald Bourque and Roger
Richard each urged the EUB to reject the meters as unsafe"
Methinks a lot of folks should thank Dr. Roger Richard and Gerald Bourque for going before the EUB and doing their best to speak in defense of our rights and interests AGAIN N'esy Pas?
Joe Rootliek
Content disabled
Interesting
on the comments above for WI FI ionizing energy- We see even the Cell
networks go to 5 G. The mainstream science says it does not cause
cancer. The low stream science says it does, but how do you prove that.
But, cancer rates are on the increase in most countries, everywhere.
Wayne Wright
Content disabled
Reply to @Joe Rootliek: ... and there are those who claim water causes cancer too!!
Joe Rootliek
Content disabled
Reply to @Wayne Wright: Depends what is in the water.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Joe Rootliek: Methinks you should read Dr. Paul Heroux's testimony at the EUB Hearing this week N'esy Pas?
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Mitton, Megan (LEG)" <Megan.Mitton@gnb.ca>
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2020 11:01:01 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: RE "Not So Smart" Meters versus 100 million
loonies Methinks the silence of CBC, Higgy, Minister Mikey Holland and
all your political and media cohorts spoke volumes N'esy Pas Mr.Jones?
To: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Thank you for contacting me. This response is to assure you that your
message has been received. I welcome and appreciate receiving comments
and questions from constituents.
All emails are reviewed on a regular basis, however due to the high
volume of emails my office receives, I may not be able to respond
personally to each one.
For media requests, please call: 506-429-2285.
---
Merci de m'avoir contacté. Ce courriel a pour but de vous assurer que
votre message a bien été reçu. Je vous invite à me faire part de vos
commentaires et de vos questions.
Tous les courriels sont révisés régulièrement, mais en raison du
volume élevé de courriels que mon bureau reçoit, il se peut que je ne
sois pas en mesure de répondre personnellement à chacun.
Pour les demandes des médias, veuillez appeler: 506-429-2285.
Megan Mitton
Member of the Legislative Assembly/Députée
Memramcook - Tantramar
megan.mitton@gnb.ca
506-378-1565
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Carr, Jeff Hon. (ELG/EGL)" <Jeff.Carr@gnb.ca>
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2020 11:01:03 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: RE "Not So Smart" Meters versus 100 million
loonies Methinks the silence of CBC, Higgy, Minister Mikey Holland and
all your political and media cohorts spoke volumes N'esy Pas Mr.Jones?
To: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Thank you for your email. Your thoughts, comments and input are greatly valued.
You can be assured that all emails and letters are carefully read,
reviewed and taken into consideration.
There may be occasions when, given the issues you have raised and the
need to address them effectively, we will forward a copy of your
correspondence to the appropriate government official. Accordingly, a
response may take several business days.
If your request is Constituency related, please contact Rose Ann at my
Constituency office in Fredericton Junction at RoseAnn.Smith@gnb.ca or
by phone at 506-368-2938.
Thanks again for your email.
______
Merci pour votre courriel. Nous vous sommes très reconnaissants de
nous avoir fait part de vos idées, commentaires et observations.
Nous tenons à vous assurer que nous lisons attentivement et prenons en
considération tous les courriels et lettres que nous recevons.
Dans certains cas, nous transmettrons votre message au ministère
responsable afin que les questions soulevées puissent être traitées de
la manière la plus efficace possible. En conséquence, plusieurs jours
ouvrables pourraient s’écouler avant que nous puissions vous répondre.
Si votre demande est liée à la circonscription, veuillez contacter
Rose Ann à mon bureau de circonscription à Fredericton Junction à
RoseAnn.Smith@gnb.ca ou par téléphone au 506-368-2938.
Merci encore pour votre courriel.
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Harrison, Wanda" <WHarrison@nbpower.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2020 11:01:06 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: EXT - RE "Not So Smart" Meters versus 100
million loonies Methinks the silence of CBC, Higgy, Minister Mikey
Holland and all your political and media cohorts spoke volumes N'esy
Pas Mr.Jones?
To: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
I am currently out of the office with no access to my email.
Please contact Joanne Regan at jregan@nbpower.com or 458-3711 for any issues.
Thank you
______________________________
This e-mail communication (including any or all attachments) is
intended only for the use of the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. If
you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, any use, review,
retransmission, distribution, dissemination, copying, printing, or
other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon this e-mail, is
strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
contact the sender and delete the original and any copy of this e-mail
and any printout thereof, immediately. Your co-operation is
appreciated.
Le pr?sent courriel (y compris toute pi?ce jointe) s'adresse
uniquement ? son destinataire, qu'il soit une personne ou un
organisme, et pourrait comporter des renseignements privil?gi?s ou
confidentiels. Si vous n'?tes pas le destinataire du courriel, il est
interdit d'utiliser, de revoir, de retransmettre, de distribuer, de
diss?miner, de copier ou d'imprimer ce courriel, d'agir en vous y
fiant ou de vous en servir de toute autre fa?on. Si vous avez re?u le
pr?sent courriel par erreur, pri?re de communiquer avec l'exp?diteur
et d'?liminer l'original du courriel, ainsi que toute copie
?lectronique ou imprim?e de celui-ci, imm?diatement. Nous sommes
reconnaissants de votre collaboration.
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2020 07:00:56 -0400
Subject: RE "Not So Smart" Meters versus 100 million loonies Methinks
the silence of CBC, Higgy, Minister Mikey Holland and all your
political and media cohorts spoke volumes N'esy Pas Mr.Jones?
To: "Robert. Jones" <Robert.Jones@cbc.ca>, "Holland, Mike (LEG)"
< mike.holland@gnb.ca>, lclark@nbpower.com,
colleen.dentremont@
< Bill.Morneau@canada.ca>, premier <premier@ontario.ca>, Office of the
Premier <scott.moe@gov.sk.ca>, premier <premier@gov.ab.ca>
Cc: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
< wharrison@nbpower.com>, gthomas <gthomas@nbpower.com>,
Andrea.AndersonMason@gnb.ca, jesse <jesse@viafoura.com>, news
< news@dailygleaner.com>, nben@nben.ca, premier <premier@gnb.ca>,
"blaine.higgs" <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, "dominic.leblanc.c1"
< dominic.leblanc.c1@parl.gc.ca
< Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca>, "jeff.carr" <jeff.carr@gnb.ca>,
oldmaison@yahoo.com, andre <andre@jafaust.com>,
"Ginette.PetitpasTaylor" <Ginette.PetitpasTaylor@parl.
"Sherry.Wilson" <Sherry.Wilson@gnb.ca>, "Ross.Wetmore"
< Ross.Wetmore@gnb.ca>, megan.mitton@gnb.ca, "David.Coon"
< David.Coon@gnb.ca>, "Arseneau, Kevin (LEG)"
< Kevin.A.Arseneau@gnb.ca>, Newsroom <Newsroom@globeandmail.com>,
Nathalie Sturgeon <sturgeon.nathalie@
"steve.murphy" <steve.murphy@ctv.ca>, "nick.brown"
< nick.brown@gnb.ca>, "robert.mckee" <robert.mckee@gnb.ca>,
"Kevin.Vickers" <Kevin.Vickers@gnb.ca>, "Tim.RICHARDSON"
< Tim.RICHARDSON@gnb.ca>, "Trevor.Holder" <Trevor.Holder@gnb.ca>,
"rick.desaulniers" <rick.desaulniers@gnb.ca>, "michelle.conroy"
< michelle.conroy@gnb.ca>, "Mike.Comeau" <Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca>, "carl.
davies" <carl.davies@gnb.ca>, "carl.urquhart" <carl.urquhart@gnb.ca>,
"Cathy.Rogers" <Cathy.Rogers@gnb.ca>, "robert.gauvin"
< robert.gauvin@gnb.ca>, "Roger.L.Melanson" <roger.l.melanson@gnb.ca>,
"Roger.Brown" <Roger.Brown@fredericton.ca>, "ron.tremblay2"
< ron.tremblay2@gmail.com>, philippe@dunsky.com,
Steven_Reid3@carleton.ca, "darrow.macintyre"
< darrow.macintyre@cbc.ca>, "Chuck.Thompson" <Chuck.Thompson@cbc.ca>,
"sylvie.gadoury" <sylvie.gadoury@radio-canada.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Harrison, Wanda" <WHarrison@nbpower.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2020 00:04:16 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: EXT - Too Too Funny Methinks the LIEbranos
could use a little Deja Vu N'esy Pas Ross Wetmore?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
I am currently out of the office with no access to my email.
Please contact Joanne Regan at jregan@nbpower.com or 458-3711 for any issues.
Thank you
______________________________
This e-mail communication (including any or all attachments) is
intended only for the use of the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. If
you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, any use, review,
retransmission, distribution, dissemination, copying, printing, or
other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon this e-mail, is
strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
contact the sender and delete the original and any copy of this e-mail
and any printout thereof, immediately. Your co-operation is
appreciated.
Le pr?sent courriel (y compris toute pi?ce jointe) s'adresse
uniquement ? son destinataire, qu'il soit une personne ou un
organisme, et pourrait comporter des renseignements privil?gi?s ou
confidentiels. Si vous n'?tes pas le destinataire du courriel, il est
interdit d'utiliser, de revoir, de retransmettre, de distribuer, de
diss?miner, de copier ou d'imprimer ce courriel, d'agir en vous y
fiant ou de vous en servir de toute autre fa?on. Si vous avez re?u le
pr?sent courriel par erreur, pri?re de communiquer avec l'exp?diteur
et d'?liminer l'original du courriel, ainsi que toute copie
?lectronique ou imprim?e de celui-ci, imm?diatement. Nous sommes
reconnaissants de votre collaboration.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2020 09:18:46 -0400
Subject: Attn Lori Clark Why do yo keep asking Roger Richard if I will
be attending the EUB hearing?
To: lclark@nbpower.com, colleen.dentremont@
Cc: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Obviously I am not there today nor am I coming so the Saint John cops
can quit hanging around the meeting rooms at the Delta looking for me
and do something important like catching crooks If you wish to speak
to me I have no doubt that Colleen Dentremont saved my cell number
after she finally called me back last week
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Harrison, Wanda" <WHarrison@nbpower.com>
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2020 12:21:19 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: EXT - Methinks Jacky Boy Keir and his
LIEbrano cohorts are too Happy Happy Happy these days to suit some
folks N'esy Pas Minister Mikey Holland?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
I am currently out of the office with no access to my email.
Please contact Joanne Regan at jregan@nbpower.com or 458-3711 for any issues.
Thank you
______________________________
This e-mail communication (including any or all attachments) is
intended only for the use of the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. If
you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, any use, review,
retransmission, distribution, dissemination, copying, printing, or
other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon this e-mail, is
strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
contact the sender and delete the original and any copy of this e-mail
and any printout thereof, immediately. Your co-operation is
appreciated.
Le pr?sent courriel (y compris toute pi?ce jointe) s'adresse
uniquement ? son destinataire, qu'il soit une personne ou un
organisme, et pourrait comporter des renseignements privil?gi?s ou
confidentiels. Si vous n'?tes pas le destinataire du courriel, il est
interdit d'utiliser, de revoir, de retransmettre, de distribuer, de
diss?miner, de copier ou d'imprimer ce courriel, d'agir en vous y
fiant ou de vous en servir de toute autre fa?on. Si vous avez re?u le
pr?sent courriel par erreur, pri?re de communiquer avec l'exp?diteur
et d'?liminer l'original du courriel, ainsi que toute copie
?lectronique ou imprim?e de celui-ci, imm?diatement. Nous sommes
reconnaissants de votre collaboration.
https://davidraymondamos3.
Tuesday, 21 January 2020
Smart meter critics change tone on NB Power's new business case
https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @Kathryn98967631 and 49 others
Methinks folks should thank Dr. Roger Richard He went to a great deal of effort and expense to bring Dr. Paul Heroux and Dr. Francis Tatoutchoup before the EUB to speak in defense of our interests N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/01/smart-meter-critics-change-tone-on-nb.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-smart-meter-eub-hearings-1.5434186
Smart meter critics change tone on NB Power's new business case
Outside energy consultants say tweaked plan ‘a good business case’
· CBC News · Posted: Jan 21, 2020 6:00 AM AT
NB Power's $92-million smart meter plan has been under the microscope during EUB hearings this month. (Robert Jones/CBC)
NB Power's $92-million plan to buy and deploy smart meters in New Brunswick got a late endorsement Monday from a pair of consultants unconnected to the utility who had lobbed early criticisms at the project — a change in tone not lost on at least one Energy and Utilities Board member who will soon be deciding its fate.
"Both of you there just gave some compliments to NB Power on their business case. So you think this is a well-prepared business case?" asked EUB member Michael Costello during the testimony of Philip Diodomenico and Kathleen Kelly, consultants with Daymark Energy Advisors Inc. of Worcester, Mass.
Diodomenico and Kelly were hired by public intervener Heather Black to independently review NB Power's smart meter plan and told Costello despite some shortcomings it is a much better proposal than they have dealt with elsewhere.
"Generally, the business case is a good business case," said Diodomenico.
U.S. energy experts Philip Diodomenico and Kathleen Kelly gave NB Power high marks for its smart meter plan on the final day of witness testimony, despite being critical in a November report. (CBC)
"It's made good use of outside consultants and expertise. It's taken a conservative approach in a number of areas, not everywhere, but in a number of areas. Yeah, so it's a good business case."
Kelly said although NB Power might be underestimating expenses and overestimating benefits of its smart meter plan by several millions of dollars, it still looks to be a solid investment.
"We've tried to take some of the assumptions and expand them and make them more conservative to make ourselves more comfortable with it," said Kelly.
"We've reduced the benefit cost ratio, but we haven't seen it go to one [break even] or lower."
EUB member Michael Costello is one of three who will decide the fate of NB Power's smart meter plan and was struck by compliments it was getting from experts hired by the public intervener. (CBC)
Black recommended against the adoption of NB Power's smart meter plan during the utility's first application in 2018 and, although she has expressed no personal opinion on the matter so far this time, her experts gave the utility's case an important boost at a critical time.
The two said they would not recommend against the project moving forward if NB Power expands on a risk assessment of things that could go wrong and how they might be fixed and develops acceptable ways to measure whether the meters are accomplishing predetermined goals.
New Brunswick public intervener Heather Black opposed NB Power's smart meter application in 2018, but experts she hired for the current application are giving it high marks. (CBC)
Diodomenico and Kelly were the final two witnesses to be called during the hearing, which has lasted six days and moves to final arguments on Wednesday.
Extent of financial benefits questioned
NB Power has presented evidence suggesting its acquisition of 360,000 smart meters will provide 16 financial benefits that together will exceed the projected cost of the project by $31.1 million over 15 years.Although Diodomenico and Kelly said that net benefit number is probably too high, it's likely not zero, something a second independent expert was less certain of.
Alice Napoleon, a senior associate with Synapse Energy Economics of Cambridge, Mass., also testified Monday.
A third U.S.-based energy expert who testified Monday about NB Power's smart meter plan was less flattering. Alice Napoleon was hired by the EUB and testified over the phone the proposal is risky for NB Power customers and may cost more than it makes. (Synapse Energy Economics)
Synapse was hired to independently evaluate the smart meter plan as well, but by the Energy and Utilities Board itself.
Napoleon told the board it is unclear from her analysis — because of vagueness in NB Power's numbers — whether the project will be a financial benefit or liability in the long run.
"We find that NB Power has presented a proposal that, under plausible conditions, would result in benefits to ratepayers," said Napoleon in her opening statement.
"Under alternative but still plausible conditions, the proposed AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) plan might not provide net benefits to customers."
Intervener raises health concerns
Also testifying Monday was McGill University lecturer Paul Heroux, who was called by intervener Roger Richard, a staunch opponent of smart meters.Heroux said his research shows that even low levels of radiation, like from radio frequencies that will be constantly emitted by smart meters, pose a health hazard to humans.
Earlier in the hearing, Dr. Michele Plant, a witness for NB Power, testified there was "no carcinogenic risk" from radio waves or frequencies at "an exposure level thousands of times higher than those measured near a smart meter."
In the hearing two years ago, the EUB ruled it could find no credible evidence that smart meters posed any health risks.
60 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Raymond Amos
Methinks Higgy and Minister Mikey would agree that their silence on this topic speaks volumes to political animals such as I. For a year they could have picked up the phone to stop this "Not So Smart" Meter madness and saved us 100 million loonies in the process. Instead the conservatives opted to roll the dice and leave the matter in the hands of EUB Commissioners all of whom are politically appointed liberal buddies. Its a wicked game and I am very curious as to how it will play out but I have no doubt whatsoever Jacky Boy Keir already knows N'esy Pas?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: "Intervener raises health concerns Also testifying Monday was McGill University lecturer Paul Heroux, who was called by intervener Roger Richard, a staunch opponent of smart meters."
Go Figure
NEW BRUNSWICK ENERGY and UTILITIES BOARD
Matter 452
IN THE MATTER OF an application by New Brunswick Power Corporation for approval and Advanced Metering Infrastructure capital project
Held at the Delta Hotel, Saint John, N.B. on January 20th 2020.
Page 880
Q. - Oui merci. Si la Commission accepterait les compteurs intelligents et le compte de report en ce qui concerne l’amortissement de leur valeur comptables restant des compteurs d’électricité actuellement installes d’Énergie Nouveau Brunswick, est-ce que cela affecterait votre travail ou votre revenu?
A. Non.
Q. - Merci. Depuis quand on se connait, vous et moi?
A. On s’est connu il y a plusieurs visages qui sont familiers. J’étais dans la session précédente, il y a un ou deux relativement à la même question, j’étais ici. Vous étiez là. Monsieur Furey, je le reconnais.
DR. RICHARD: Merci. Monsieur le président, je demande respectueusement à la Commission de reconnaitre Docteur Héroux expert dans la technologie des ondes.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Donc c’est un peu différente de ce que vous avez envoyé par courrier électronique. Si je relis votre courrier électronique que vous avez envoyé aux parties, Docteur Richard, vous avez l’intention, dans ce moment-là de le reconnait comme un expert en tant que physicien chercheur dans les technologies des ondes. Est-ce que vous mainteniez cette…
DR. RICHARD: Oui.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Continued
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Okay, merci. So there is -- I am just wondering if there is anybody who is objecting to the qualification of Dr. Heroux in the area of expertise that Dr. Richard has suggested? So hearing nothing, Dr. Heroux will be recognized -- and I will say this in French -- Comme un expert en tant que physicien chercheur dans la technologie des ondes. Docteur Richard?
Q. - Oui, merci. Madame Mitchell si vous pouvez remettre le document RR 1.03. Merci. Si je comprends bien monsieur le président, Docteur Héroux a droit à un opening statement?
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Oui Docteur Richard, et j’aimerais juste vous rappelez Docteur Héroux que vous n’avez pas besoin de nous relater votre rapport. On l’a lu. On a pris connaissance de votre rapport. Si vous voulez donner peut-être juste un sommaire de vos conclusions. À ce moment-là, lorsque vous avez donné ça, les parties vont pouvoir vous contre-interroger sur le rapport.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Okay, merci. So there is -- I am just wondering if there is anybody who is objecting to the qualification of Dr. Heroux in the area of expertise that Dr. Richard has suggested? So hearing nothing, Dr. Heroux will be recognized -- and I will say this in French -- Comme un expert en tant que physicien chercheur dans la technologie des ondes. Docteur Richard?
Q. - Oui, merci. Madame Mitchell si vous pouvez remettre le document RR 1.03. Merci. Si je comprends bien monsieur le président, Docteur Héroux a droit à un opening statement?
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Oui Docteur Richard, et j’aimerais juste vous rappelez Docteur Héroux que vous n’avez pas besoin de nous relater votre rapport. On l’a lu. On a pris connaissance de votre rapport. Si vous voulez donner peut-être juste un sommaire de vos conclusions. À ce moment-là, lorsque vous avez donné ça, les parties vont pouvoir vous contre-interroger sur le rapport.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Continued
MR. FUREY: Excuse me, Mr. Vice-Chair. We have been provided with no opening statement.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: No, he is not giving an opening statement, Mr. Furey. He is just providing a conclusion of his report -- a short conclusion of what his report is.
DR. HEROUX: So I have a number of pages and on the first page I talk about the potential advantages of smart meters. Then on the second page I talk about the fact that meters, when installed, could become a significant source of exposure beyond what is initially intended. Then I talk about the difference between heat, recognizing heat only as an agent, versus recognizing the field as a biologically active agent and how I would say companies have avoided recognizing fields and only recognize heat and I talk as well about the fact that recent research, the National Toxicology Program, the Ramazzini Institute have changed the situation and that -- also that it is likely that the public health community will change its recommendations in the very near future in relation to biological impact. That smart meters are special in the sense that most people can choose to avoid exposures from cell phones or from other devices, but that a smart meter is sort of blanket imposed on a number of people, that this question is important to -- is well known in society that epidemiologists are detecting that some increases in diseases are occurring and that the pattern of damage that is seen in animal models is not compatible with the engineering view that is based on heat.Is that short enough?
MR. FUREY: Excuse me, Mr. Vice-Chair. We have been provided with no opening statement.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: No, he is not giving an opening statement, Mr. Furey. He is just providing a conclusion of his report -- a short conclusion of what his report is.
DR. HEROUX: So I have a number of pages and on the first page I talk about the potential advantages of smart meters. Then on the second page I talk about the fact that meters, when installed, could become a significant source of exposure beyond what is initially intended. Then I talk about the difference between heat, recognizing heat only as an agent, versus recognizing the field as a biologically active agent and how I would say companies have avoided recognizing fields and only recognize heat and I talk as well about the fact that recent research, the National Toxicology Program, the Ramazzini Institute have changed the situation and that -- also that it is likely that the public health community will change its recommendations in the very near future in relation to biological impact. That smart meters are special in the sense that most people can choose to avoid exposures from cell phones or from other devices, but that a smart meter is sort of blanket imposed on a number of people, that this question is important to -- is well known in society that epidemiologists are detecting that some increases in diseases are occurring and that the pattern of damage that is seen in animal models is not compatible with the engineering view that is based on heat.Is that short enough?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Continued
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Thank you, sir. Autre choses Docteur Richard avant que votre témoin soit contre-interroger?
DR. RICHARD: Non.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Ok merci.
Mr. Furey, I am just wondering how long you are going to be? It is getting close to a morning break and if you anticipate to be --
MR. FUREY: I have no questions, Mr. Vice-Chair.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Okay, thank you. Mr. Bourque, do you have any questions for this witness?
MR. BOURQUE: Yes, I do.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Can you move forward please?
MR. BOURQUE: Thank you.
CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR. BOURQUE:
Q. - The first question is what is the health implications for children and pregnant women that stay at home all day?
A. Well I do promote the idea that in schools, for example, we should not use wifi because of experimental evidence that we have on modifications seen in the brains of rats following exposures to wifi. And as you know, the radiation from smart meters is not very different from that of wifi. So contrary to the report of Dr. Plante who does not believe that the electrosensitive people are real, I believe that they are very real, that they are only a small fraction of the population but that chronic exposure to these fields from smart meters, either alone or in combination, because of the length of exposure, can have an effect that is physiological and perhaps even irreversible. So I believe that this is a serious question and you may be aware that a number of countries in the world already, it is forbidden to use wifi near very young children. So when you were talking about brains in development, a number of connections are being made that are -- that depend on very delicate processes that can be influenced, in my opinion, by electronic waves.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Thank you, sir. Autre choses Docteur Richard avant que votre témoin soit contre-interroger?
DR. RICHARD: Non.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Ok merci.
Mr. Furey, I am just wondering how long you are going to be? It is getting close to a morning break and if you anticipate to be --
MR. FUREY: I have no questions, Mr. Vice-Chair.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Okay, thank you. Mr. Bourque, do you have any questions for this witness?
MR. BOURQUE: Yes, I do.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Can you move forward please?
MR. BOURQUE: Thank you.
CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR. BOURQUE:
Q. - The first question is what is the health implications for children and pregnant women that stay at home all day?
A. Well I do promote the idea that in schools, for example, we should not use wifi because of experimental evidence that we have on modifications seen in the brains of rats following exposures to wifi. And as you know, the radiation from smart meters is not very different from that of wifi. So contrary to the report of Dr. Plante who does not believe that the electrosensitive people are real, I believe that they are very real, that they are only a small fraction of the population but that chronic exposure to these fields from smart meters, either alone or in combination, because of the length of exposure, can have an effect that is physiological and perhaps even irreversible. So I believe that this is a serious question and you may be aware that a number of countries in the world already, it is forbidden to use wifi near very young children. So when you were talking about brains in development, a number of connections are being made that are -- that depend on very delicate processes that can be influenced, in my opinion, by electronic waves.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Continued
Q. - Thank you. Would this have an effect on the elderly also that are confined to, you know, homes, that can’t get out?
A. Yes. I don’t know if you have been given a copy of my most recent publication relating to oxygen and magnetic fields? Has this been provided, Dr. Richard?
DR. RICHARD: Non malheureusement je ne l’ai pas déposé.
A. A just completed work --
VICE-CHAIRMAN: So if it is not in the public record before us, Dr. Heroux, I would ask you not to comment on it.
WITNESS: So I would not comment on the publication but can I comment on the work leading to the publication or --
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Well if it is not before us, it is hard for us to understand what was written and to have the parties to question on it so, no, I would ask you not to comment on it.
WITNESS: Then to answer the question is that there is a large body of literature that is not connected to me that already exists, that says that exposure to electromagnetic radiation increases free radicals. Maybe you know what free radicals are. Those are molecules that are activated in the body that can create damage and there is a very substantial literature that says that exposure to electromagnetic radiation, even at low intensities, can increase the amount of free radicals in the body.
Q. - Thank you. Would this have an effect on the elderly also that are confined to, you know, homes, that can’t get out?
A. Yes. I don’t know if you have been given a copy of my most recent publication relating to oxygen and magnetic fields? Has this been provided, Dr. Richard?
DR. RICHARD: Non malheureusement je ne l’ai pas déposé.
A. A just completed work --
VICE-CHAIRMAN: So if it is not in the public record before us, Dr. Heroux, I would ask you not to comment on it.
WITNESS: So I would not comment on the publication but can I comment on the work leading to the publication or --
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Well if it is not before us, it is hard for us to understand what was written and to have the parties to question on it so, no, I would ask you not to comment on it.
WITNESS: Then to answer the question is that there is a large body of literature that is not connected to me that already exists, that says that exposure to electromagnetic radiation increases free radicals. Maybe you know what free radicals are. Those are molecules that are activated in the body that can create damage and there is a very substantial literature that says that exposure to electromagnetic radiation, even at low intensities, can increase the amount of free radicals in the body.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Continued
Free radicals, by physiologists, are implicated in a large number of chronic diseases. In other words, you may not feel these effects immediately but you will feel them later either by increases in the rates of disease or by diseases progressing more quickly. This is what free radicals are understood to do. And they do this in very, I would say important diseases, for example, in diabetes, which is 25 percent of your health budget, in things like Alzheimer’s and in Parkinson’s. And indeed there are people who promote the idea that these individual diseases are connected with electromagnetic radiation exposures and these connections are observed not only with cell phones, but they are observed with even proximity to a cell tower, which is if you live within 500 meters of a cell tower, that is low field intensities, we observe health changes in relation to this. So this was essentially confirmed not only by epidemiology in the field, but also by the data of the Ramazzini Institute which was released at the same time as the National toxicology program that studied the -- I would say the effects of cell phones.
Free radicals, by physiologists, are implicated in a large number of chronic diseases. In other words, you may not feel these effects immediately but you will feel them later either by increases in the rates of disease or by diseases progressing more quickly. This is what free radicals are understood to do. And they do this in very, I would say important diseases, for example, in diabetes, which is 25 percent of your health budget, in things like Alzheimer’s and in Parkinson’s. And indeed there are people who promote the idea that these individual diseases are connected with electromagnetic radiation exposures and these connections are observed not only with cell phones, but they are observed with even proximity to a cell tower, which is if you live within 500 meters of a cell tower, that is low field intensities, we observe health changes in relation to this. So this was essentially confirmed not only by epidemiology in the field, but also by the data of the Ramazzini Institute which was released at the same time as the National toxicology program that studied the -- I would say the effects of cell phones.
David Raymond Amos
Methinks a lot of folks should thank my friend Dr. Roger Richard
At the very least Minister Mikey Holland and his political cohorts cannot deny that my friend went to a great deal of effort and expense to bring the expert witnesses Dr. Paul Heroux and Dr. Francis Tatoutchoup before the EUB to speak in defense of our rights and interests AGAIN N'esy Pas?
BruceJack
Speculator
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: let's wait to see if the effort was successful . . .
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @BruceJack
Speculator: Methinks that person who does not have enough class to use
his real name should at least thank your neighbor for trying to defend
what you hold so dearly in your wallet N'esy Pas?
BruceJack Speculator
Reply to @BruceJack Speculator: was that the guy talking about radio waves or something? what about the hazard from 60 hertz power itself all 24 hours . . . what about the use of cell phones or in-house portable phones . . . for a smart meter why not just put a metal shield on the wall behind it ? would that protect the residents? maybe wear a hat with a metal shield and save oneself from all other types of E-M radiation too? who could a person thank if they don't know really why the expert was testifying and perhaps the chance for a personal gain? let's wait to see if the effort is successful and see if there is any way to determine why the person intervened?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @BruceJack Speculator: Methinks folks should understand why you don't use your real name N'esy Pas?
Justin Time
From a previous CBC article.
"A recently revived Energy and Utilities Board review is examining potentially extreme pricing changes that would shift more cost to residential consumers in New Brunswick with electric heat and move other residential consumption to lower demand periods.
The so-called "rate design" initiative could eventually result in premium prices for consumers in high-demand periods, discounts during lulls, special charges for peak monthly consumption levels, known as demand charges, or other measures or combinations of measures designed to reshape New Brunswick electricity demand. "
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-rate-design-extreme-prices-eub-1.5365757
This same Brattle group also promotes the benefits of smart meters . What a coincidence.
Residental customers are going to take it again.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Justin
Time: Methinks Minister Mikey knows that I will have a lot to say
Brattle Group's report when the EUB finally holds the hearing about it
that has been delayed since December N'esy Pas?
Justin Time
There's one big assumption that has been made that I don't think has been sufficiently addressed. Customer acceptance and customer benefits/detriments. If enough customers opt out then the grand plan may not meet expectations.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Justin Time: I must disagree with ye who has a name I do not believe
I do so because I try considering things in extremes
Methinks if everybody opted out then NB Power would make a rather huge profit collecting our penalties monthly yet it would not have to spend a dime on "Not So Smart" meters because nobody wanted them in the first place N'esy Pas?
I do so because I try considering things in extremes
Methinks if everybody opted out then NB Power would make a rather huge profit collecting our penalties monthly yet it would not have to spend a dime on "Not So Smart" meters because nobody wanted them in the first place N'esy Pas?
Justin Time
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: We can't get much by you can we.
I think there may be a chance quite a few people opt out of smart meters unless they can be shown that there is a personal financial benefit to them. However, I think that the chance of NB Power not spending a dime on smart meters is next to zero. N'esy Pas?
I think there may be a chance quite a few people opt out of smart meters unless they can be shown that there is a personal financial benefit to them. However, I think that the chance of NB Power not spending a dime on smart meters is next to zero. N'esy Pas?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Justin
Time: Methinks everybody knows NB Power already signed the contracts to
get the "Not So Smart" meters This is a just smoke and mirror show at
the circus brought to us by spin doctors from south of the 49th This
article attests to the fact that it has become rather obvious that our
so called "Public" intervener and her Yankee consultants have changed
their tune and she is now working against our interests N'esy Pas?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Justin Time:
Trust that I made certain that Higgy and his cohorts knew about this
"Not So Smart" Meter nonsense long before the last election
IN THE MATTER OF an application by New Brunswick Power Corporation
for approval of the schedules of the rates for the fiscal year
commencing April 1, 2018. held at the Delta Hotel, Saint John, New
Brunswick, on February 9th 2018.
Transcript Page 601
VICE-CHAIRMAN: I was a bit surprised when I heard this morning and
yesterday that you are entering into a contract at the end of February
and is that with respect to the purchase of the smart meters?
MS. CLARK: That's correct.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: So how can you enter into a contract without the firm
approval of this Board, if we are going to approve or not the AMI? How
prudent is that?
MS. CLARK: So we are at the end stages of the contract in terms of
just the final terms and conditions, but we have been very clear that
we -- with the vendor -- and they recognize that, because we also have
Nova Scotia Power, who is part of our consortium, who also needs Board
approval. So should we not get -- this is conditional on EUB approval.
So should we not get EUB approval, the contract would not proceed.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Now there was discussion yesterday, I think it was with
Mr. Stoll regarding time of use and time based pricing, and so I went
through the evidence this morning, and in your main evidence, and I
think one of the objective of having the AMI going forward to a time
of use price structure -- rate structure. So am I understanding that
correctly
IN THE MATTER OF an application by New Brunswick Power Corporation
for approval of the schedules of the rates for the fiscal year
commencing April 1, 2018. held at the Delta Hotel, Saint John, New
Brunswick, on February 9th 2018.
Transcript Page 601
VICE-CHAIRMAN: I was a bit surprised when I heard this morning and
yesterday that you are entering into a contract at the end of February
and is that with respect to the purchase of the smart meters?
MS. CLARK: That's correct.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: So how can you enter into a contract without the firm
approval of this Board, if we are going to approve or not the AMI? How
prudent is that?
MS. CLARK: So we are at the end stages of the contract in terms of
just the final terms and conditions, but we have been very clear that
we -- with the vendor -- and they recognize that, because we also have
Nova Scotia Power, who is part of our consortium, who also needs Board
approval. So should we not get -- this is conditional on EUB approval.
So should we not get EUB approval, the contract would not proceed.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Now there was discussion yesterday, I think it was with
Mr. Stoll regarding time of use and time based pricing, and so I went
through the evidence this morning, and in your main evidence, and I
think one of the objective of having the AMI going forward to a time
of use price structure -- rate structure. So am I understanding that
correctly
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Justin Time: Continued
MS. CLARK: That is correct. And in the evidence, we did answer an
interrogatory on that and you will see that AMI is an enabler for time
varying rates in the Energy Smart NB Plan. And we did have time
varying rates included in our investment rationale. We took it out,
because we couldn't -- we couldn't pinpoint without more detail as to
what those time varying rates may be and the benefit of those, so we
took them out of the investment rationale at this point in time, but
certainly it's something that we are looking at in the future
VICE-CHAIRMAN: So the fundamental question here is that the Board
should heard -- or hear Matter 357 before approving the AMI? So if we
don't approve time of use, that basically what will happen with your
AMI, I mean it's -- if we don't approve the time of use, which we are
going to hear next year, how can we proceed in approving the AMI
before we look at the rate structure?
MS. CLARK: As we have talked about in our investment rationale, there
are a number of other benefits to both the customer and to the utility
over and above time varying rates that we believe are important for
the utility and for the movement forward of our Energy Smart New
Brunswick plan. Many of those benefits accrue to the customer. And
many of those benefits accrue to the utility and ultimately the
customer. So even if we were not to move in the direction of time
varying rates, we believe that the investment rationale supports the
AMI installation based on the other investment -- or based on the
other benefits that it provides
MS. CLARK: That is correct. And in the evidence, we did answer an
interrogatory on that and you will see that AMI is an enabler for time
varying rates in the Energy Smart NB Plan. And we did have time
varying rates included in our investment rationale. We took it out,
because we couldn't -- we couldn't pinpoint without more detail as to
what those time varying rates may be and the benefit of those, so we
took them out of the investment rationale at this point in time, but
certainly it's something that we are looking at in the future
VICE-CHAIRMAN: So the fundamental question here is that the Board
should heard -- or hear Matter 357 before approving the AMI? So if we
don't approve time of use, that basically what will happen with your
AMI, I mean it's -- if we don't approve the time of use, which we are
going to hear next year, how can we proceed in approving the AMI
before we look at the rate structure?
MS. CLARK: As we have talked about in our investment rationale, there
are a number of other benefits to both the customer and to the utility
over and above time varying rates that we believe are important for
the utility and for the movement forward of our Energy Smart New
Brunswick plan. Many of those benefits accrue to the customer. And
many of those benefits accrue to the utility and ultimately the
customer. So even if we were not to move in the direction of time
varying rates, we believe that the investment rationale supports the
AMI installation based on the other investment -- or based on the
other benefits that it provides
Justin Gunther
If you're a crown corp in a representative democracy, and you propose something that citizens clearly don't want, what do you do? You keep hiring experts to say the same thing over and over again and until the citizenry is worn down and decides it can no longer invest time and energy in defending itself.
Justin Gunther
Reply to @Justin Gunther: One too many "and's", apologies still on my first coffee.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Justin
Gunther: Me Too but my coffee has gone cold because I am enjoying the
circus too much today. Methinks a lot of folks are gonna enjoy the
closing arguments tomorrow N'esy Pas?
DON MOFFATT
Reply to @Justin
Gunther: I seem to recall someone from history that used that tactic.
Keep telling people the same thing over and over again and eventually
they will think it is the truth. This person used it a lot in the 1930's
and 1940's until he committed suicide.
Roy Nicholl
I
have always wondered why they need to use meters with wireless
communications given the meter is connected to a perfectly fine network
over which data could be transmitted.
Steve Cohen
Reply to @Roy Nicholl: which "perfectly fine network" are you referring to?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Roy Nicholl: BINGO
Ben
Haroldson
Must have got them in on the butter too.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Ben
Haroldson: NOPE Methinks everybody knows that Cardy and Higgy have the
market cornered on Butter Tarts N'esy Pas?
April
Foster
Having
looked at the fiasco in Saskatchewan and Ontario, they should not even
be looking at smart meters. If this is supposed to reduce the rate of
consumption, how does NB Power ever expect to recover their investment?
You got it, INCREASE RATES. As for using only in off peak hours are you
ready to freeze in winter and sweat it out in summer. I think not.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @April
Foster: Methinks if you have read the EUB transcripts in this matter
then you should be a fan of the former leader of the KISS Party N'esy
Pas?
Paul Bourgoin
Is this OK?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Paul Bourgoin: NOPE
Alex Butt
This
whole EUB is just a circus show put on by the government and nb power.
Mr Thomas will get his way and when this fails, and millions wasted he
will be long gone and we are stuck paying for it for decades. Just like
the magic joi bean scandal.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Alex Butt: Welcome to the cirus
John Valcourt
This is a crock. NBPower is going to do everything they can to get these smart meters installed. There is no cost savings to New Brunswickers it is just the first step towards prime time billing so it will give the New Brunswick citizen owned corporation more money that they can waste. It is time to stop them.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @John Valcourt: Methinks you are not alone with that opinion The question is Minister Mikey and his boss Higgy or their PANB pals paying attention N'esy Pas?
Justin Time
This whole smart meter thing could become an election issue even bigger than the failed Hydro Quebec sale.People get upset when you start hitting their pocketbook and it looks like this will be inevitable in order to make this whole smart meter thing work. With the number of residential customers in this province the payback is questionable. Some studies show a minimum customer base of 1 million in order to reap the benefits of smart meters. We don't have that many people, let alone electricity customers.
Roy Kirk
Reply to @Justin Time: The better way is to use monthly consumption data to estimate mean and variation about mean for each customer over their prior years use and use those numbers to classify them. Those with relatively stable monthly consumption go in a low-cost rate class, those that show greater variation in their energy consumption go in classes with higher rates. Those who improve their performance get automatically moved to the lower rate class when their numbers show the improvement, and they stay there as long as they perform at that level. Nice predictable billing for the customer and eliminates the subsidies that small residential users with stable consumption now pay to cover the cost of larger residential customers that cost more to serve than they pay in rates.
The net result is much fairer rates for customers and good price signals for customer investments. All without a 90+ million capital investment. But benefits without costs just aren't in the wheelhouse of most utilities. ;-(
The net result is much fairer rates for customers and good price signals for customer investments. All without a 90+ million capital investment. But benefits without costs just aren't in the wheelhouse of most utilities. ;-(
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Justin Time: Methinks everybody knows before the last election the liberal appointed board did not say ok to "Not So Smart" meters and Gallant promised to freeze Nb Power's rates just like Alward did However as soon as Higgy and the PANB took over the mandate NB Power made another stab at the Metter Madness and have been begging to rate hikes even though their profit have never been better. So of course this will be an election issue N'esy Pas?
Dan Flanagan
There is a big imbalance between daytime electricity demand & nighttime demand. A utility has to build its grit for peak demand & at night the infrastructure is at an idle-----very inefficient. With pricing policies that encourage off-peak use (dish & cloth washers, industrial use), we will can avoid building more plants or buying from out-of-province suppliers. Whether or not I save money, at least we're doing something for the planet.
Roy Kirk
Reply
to @Dan Flanagan: Actually, the big imbalance is between winter peak
demand and summer demand, as the data clear shows. The day night swing
is not insignificant, but it is not the biggest problem on the system
and doesn't justify 90 million investment when most of the benefit can
be gained with existing meters. 'Do what you can with the equipment you
have before you by new equipment' is always good advice.
Dan Flanagan
Reply to @Roy Kirk: Agreed, seasonal variation is bigger than daily variation. That being said, the only economy I see is to use more electricity at night & less during peak time; you can't get that advantage on seasonal usage. Bear in mind, peak US electricity use is June when AC is in full swing, good for NB generation.
Roy Kirk
Reply to @Dan Flanagan: You can adopt a rate design that uses existing meters and gives a much better price signal to customers. That should be done before considering any new meter investment. It'll work on the summer/winter discrepancy in load, and also the diurnal load variation that is quite large in winter because of diurnal outside air temperature swings. Then you can use all that excess capacity for export sales.
Fred Brewer
Reply
to @Dan Flanagan: And we can do a lot for the planet by using that
night-time excess power capacity to recharge electric vehicles. NB Power
saves $92 million and gets new night-time customers. Win-Win.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Dan Flanagan @Fred Brewer: A little Deja Vu 4 U 2
NB Power launches PR campaign for revived smart meter plan
The utility plans to reintroduce its smart meter plan for approval later this year
Hadeel Ibrahim · CBC News · Posted: Jan 10, 2019 7:19 PM AT
Fred Brewer
@Dan Flanagan
Your vigorous defense of NB Power sounds like you might have a vested interest.
Perhaps you are an employee or related to an employee?
Dan Flanagan
@Fred Brewer
I'm retired. No relatives at or business with NB Power & never worked for them. I don't think NB P is out to screw the consumer. I feel utilities need to have enough revenue to provide for the future & be competitive & efficient. But smart meters should save many users money. Remember, the gov't has control over rate increases. I trust NB Power more than the government.
David Amos
@Dan Flanagan Whereas you are retired consider studying the transcripts of the EUB Hearings about Smart Meters etc
Gerry Ferguson
I don't want one on my house.
Dan Flanagan
@Gerry Ferguson
WHY ?
David Amos
@Dan Flanagan "WHY ?"
Methinks you should talk to Roger Richard or me if you truly care. Everybody knows that our contact information is on record within the 375 and the 357 matters of the EUB N'esy Pas?
Roger Richard
@Dan Flanagan Read Dr. Héroux testimony in NBEUB’s matter #375. It is in the fourth, fifth or sixth days of the hearing.
NB Power launches PR campaign for revived smart meter plan
The utility plans to reintroduce its smart meter plan for approval later this year
Hadeel Ibrahim · CBC News · Posted: Jan 10, 2019 7:19 PM AT
Fred Brewer
@Dan Flanagan
Your vigorous defense of NB Power sounds like you might have a vested interest.
Perhaps you are an employee or related to an employee?
Dan Flanagan
@Fred Brewer
I'm retired. No relatives at or business with NB Power & never worked for them. I don't think NB P is out to screw the consumer. I feel utilities need to have enough revenue to provide for the future & be competitive & efficient. But smart meters should save many users money. Remember, the gov't has control over rate increases. I trust NB Power more than the government.
David Amos
@Dan Flanagan Whereas you are retired consider studying the transcripts of the EUB Hearings about Smart Meters etc
Gerry Ferguson
I don't want one on my house.
Dan Flanagan
@Gerry Ferguson
WHY ?
David Amos
@Dan Flanagan "WHY ?"
Methinks you should talk to Roger Richard or me if you truly care. Everybody knows that our contact information is on record within the 375 and the 357 matters of the EUB N'esy Pas?
Roger Richard
@Dan Flanagan Read Dr. Héroux testimony in NBEUB’s matter #375. It is in the fourth, fifth or sixth days of the hearing.
David Raymond Amos
Surprise Surprise Surprise
No comments:
Post a Comment