To the Editor,

Re: Smart meters not a tax grab, Letters, Aug. 30.

Ian Gartshore is, in effect, correct that people can ‘time’ their use of power to get a lower rate, but in effect it is not that simple.

Here is the distilled opinion of a group of users in Ontario, as reported Aug. 16.

“The smart meters in Ontario homes – at a cost of more than $1 billion – have become nothing but government-sponsored tax machines, driving up hydro rates for affected families by a whopping 150 percent. Worse still, mandatory smart meters have forced families to be showered and ready for school and work before 7 a.m., and seniors to do laundry late into the night.”

Users have a Hobson’s Choice (one option) when the meters are installed.

And Victoria uses B.C. Hydro  as a cash cow and a reliable source of money.

It will be interesting to see what happens in B.C.

Alastair James Berry

Nanaimo