Re: Hydro-Québec’s Application to Install a Wireless Electric Meter Network Across the
Province, Request Number R-3770–2011
Mr. Jean-Paul Théorêt
Chairman
Régie de l’énergie du Québec
800 Place Victoria
Montréal, Québec
H3C 1E8
Dear Mr. Théorêt:
I am writing to you to express my objections to and my deep concerns about the likely
negative consequences of Hydro-Québec’s plan to install a wireless electric meter network
across the Province of Québec. This plan is outlined in Hydro-Québec’s report entitled Projet
lecture à distance, phase 1, which is available on the Régie’s website. I find myself
wondering whether you are aware of the following facts.
The installation of this invasive system of wireless meters is but a springboard for a hefty,
province-wide increase in utility rates. In all likelihood, once the system is in place, HydroQuébec will implement a time-of-use, or heure juste, billing scheme that, in other
jurisdictions, has often resulted in huge increases in electricity bills. For instance, in Ontario,
over 80% of Hydro-One customers have seen an average increase of 150% in their bills,
without any change in their consumption habits. Hydro-Québec’s plan is nothing more than a
disguised rate increase and a cash grab.
The wireless network that Hydro-Québec envisages relies on microwave radiation (GSM-900
microwaves) to transmit its data, a method that a growing body of independent scientific
research indicates is harmful to human health, in particular, foetuses, infants, children, the
sick, and the elderly.
The scientific evidence of harm from man-made radiofrequency and microwave radiation is
so convincing that, in a press release dated May 31, 2011, the International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC), which is an agency of the World Health Organization,
announced its decision to classify radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as “possibly
carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).” This classification applies, by extension, to microwave
rediation, as well.
While Hydro-Québec asserts that the level of microwave radiation emitted by its system
would be far less than the exposure limits stipulated by Health Canada, many experts argue
that these limits are based on the unproven and outdated assumption that radiofrequency and
microwave radiation are harmless as long as they do not heat the body. In addition, these
limits do not take into consideration the effects of chronic exposure to multiple sources of
man-made electromagnetic radiation from cell phone towers, cell phones, cordless phones,
baby monitors, leaking microwave ovens, iPads, iPods, Wi-Fi, and all the other wireless
devices that now surround us.
Given the recent decision by IARC to classify radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, and by
implication all non-ionizing radiation, as a possible cause of cancer, it is probable that the
World Health Organization will revise its current exposure limits on the permissible levels of
the electromagnetic fields to which the public may be exposed. Since Health Canada has
based its limits on those of the World Health Organization, it is foreseeable that the Canadian
government will revise its exposure limits in the future, with the consequent possibility that
the system Hydro-Québec intends to install would be rendered illegal.
In its application to the Régie, Hydro-Québec stated that the electro-mechanical meters it
currently uses have a useful life of 25 years. Unless its meters are of markedly inferior
quality, their useful life can more accurately be projected at 40 years, whereas the wireless
electronic meters that are to be installed can be expected to last a paltry 15 years. I object to
the premature replacement of serviceable electro-mechanical meters as an unconscionable
waste of money. I also question the validity of the decision to install meters that have such a
short useful life.
Hydro-Québec’s plan to install this wireless system, which will irradiate me and everyone
else at times of the day imposed by the public utility, thereby threatening our health and well
being, violates my personal right to choose how I will live my life. For this reason alone, this
plan is unacceptable and should be rejected outright.
Hydro-Québec’s new wireless system will greatly increase the amount of electromagnetic
radiation in the environment. The system that is envisaged consists of individual digital
meters installed on buildings whose signals are capable of travelling a distance of more than
two kilometres. The meters are designed to transmit data to a system of repeaters that will in
turn transmit to collectors, forming a Neighbourhood Area Network (NAN). The collectors
will then transmit their data to Hydro-Québec’s computers, forming a Wide Area Network
(WAN). The radiation from this extensive, complex, meshed system will be added to that
emitted by cell phone towers, power lines, portable telephones, cell phones, Wi-Fi, and the
like. I am worried about the possible repercussions that such a thick blanket of radiation
could have on my health.
Hydro-Québec’s estimate of data transmission time is misleading in that it takes into
consideration only the time required to transmit the data related to energy consumption; the
estimate ignores the total transmission time of the meter, which would be considerably longer.
Hydro-Québec is also silent with regard to the frequency and duration of the transmissions
that will be made by repeaters and collectors.
Hydro-Québec’s plan could violate my personal security, despite the utility’s assertion that,
because the transmitted data will be encrypted, it could not be stolen. Wireless systems are
notoriously easy to hack into, which would keep Hydro-Québec always just one step ahead of
would-be cyber thieves. The security-related costs would be astronomical, costs that are not
associated with the current system of electro-mechanical meters.
Hydro-Québec’s plan potentially violates my privacy because wireless electric meter systems
are capable of collecting information that is superfluous to the efficient operation of an
electric distribution system. In the initial phase, Hydro-Québec does not intend to gather
detailed information about the energy consumption of residents, businesses, and industry.
However, once the system is in place, it would be easy to expand the collection of data, which
would be of extreme interest to industry. The sale of these data by Hydro-Québec, stripped of
personal identifiers of course, could provide an additional and tempting source of revenue. I
consider that the collection of this information would be a violation of my personal privacy,
and I object to Hydro-Québec possibly subsidizing the market research activities of the
private sector.
Another reason that I object to the province-wide installation of a wireless meter system is
that it is inordinately complex and, therefore, subject to sudden and catastrophic failure,
which could increase the frequency and duration electricity black-outs. The software costs
associated with the operation of such wireless systems are also inordinately high.
Hydro-Québec’s plan is detrimental to Québécois society in that it would lead to the projected
elimination of about 1,000 positions. Well-paying, secure jobs are fundamental to the
economic health of a nation, in that individuals spend their money on lodging, food, clothing,
transportation, heating, and other necessities and luxuries of life. The purchase of the
extremely costly hardware and software required to operate a wireless electric meter system
serves to enrich only the companies who manufacture these products.
Finally, expected advances in technology will result in the development of data transmission
methods that will not use radiofrequency or microwave radiation and will, therefore, be safe.
These advances will soon render Hydro-Québec’s planned wireless electric meter system
obsolete. What’s the hurry?
I request that you share the arguments that I have made here with the eleven commissioners of
the Régie and that you post my comments on your website under the heading “Observations.”
Sincerely yours,
c.c.
Mr. Thierry Vandal, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hydro-Québec
Isabelle Courville, Président, Hydro-Québec - Distribution
Through Danielle Chabot - Media Relations (chabot.danielle.2@hydro.qc.ca)
Mr. Clément Gignac (Minister responsible for Hydro-Québec)
Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife
Government of Québec
ministre@mrnf.gouv.qc.ca
Dr. Yves Bolduc
Minister of Health and Social Services
Government of Quebec
ministre@msss.gouv.qc.ca
The Honourable Christian Paradis
Industry Canada
Government of Canada
ministre.industrie@ic.gc.ca
The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health
Government of Canada
leona.aglukkaq@parl.gc.ca
Your Member of the National Assembly
Government of Quebec
(Email address available through http://www.assnat.qc.ca/en/deputes/index.html)
Your Member of Parliament
Government of Canada
(See http://www.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx)
Mailing Addresses
Mr. Thierry Vandal
President and Chief Executive Officer
Hydro-Québec
P.O. Box 11003, Succursale Centre-ville
Montréal, Québec
H3C 4T3
Ms. Isabelle Courville
President, Hydro-Québec Distribution
75 René Lévesque Boulevard West
Montréal, Québec
H2Z 1A4
Mr. Clément Gignac
Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife
Government of Québec
880, chemin Sainte-Foy, 10th Floor
Québec, QuébecG1S 4X4
Dr. Yves Bolduc
Minister of Health and Social Services
Government of Québec
Édifice Catherine-de-Longpré
1075, chemin Sainte-Foy, 15th Floor
Québec, Québec
G1S 2M1
The Honourable Christian Paradis
Industry Canada - Government of CanadaHouse of Commons
Parliament Buildings
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health - Government of Canada
House of Commons
Parliament Buildings
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Your Member of the National AssemblyThe Honourable __________
Member of Parliament
Government of Canada
House of Commons
Parliament Buildings
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
(No postage is required for mail sent to the House of Commons)