Are you worried about smart meter technology in your home?

BC Hydro is replacing 1.8 million digital and analog power consumption meters with wireless-enabled "smart meters" by the end of 2012. (CBC)A small but vocal number of British Columbians are up in arms about smart meters, as the province's hydro utility embarks on a program to modernize the grid.

BC Hydro is in the process of replacing more than 1.8 million analog meters throughout the province with smart meters, which are capable of providing hourly information about electricity consumption. BC Hydro expects the changeover will be complete by the end of 2012.

The utility estimates the meters will save consumers $1.6 billion over the next 20 years by preventing the loss and theft of power.

But there's an intense revolt against smart meters brewing in the province, with more than 15,000 residents signing petitions opposing the devices.

Smart meters contains a wireless radio that, like a cell phone, receives calls from BC Hydro several times a day to report on how much power the customer is using.

To put the issue in perspective, CBC News asked engineer Rob Stirling to do some measurements. He concluded that the radio frequency levels emitted by the meters were far below limits set by Health Canada.

Others are more concerned about potential invasions of privacy, potentially indicating when residents are at home and when the house is empty.

B.C.'s privacy watchdog said Monday that BC Hydro failed to notify customers who received new smart meters about how their personal information was being collected and used.

Are you worried about smart meters installed in your home? Do you have concerns about the device's wireless signal, or potential privacy issues? Let us know in the comments section below.


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