INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED INTO PRIVACY OF SMART METERS

Commission Wants to Ensure Security Is Built into B.C. Hydro
Grid

B.C.'s information and privacy commissioner will investigate B.C.
Hydro's smart meter program to ensure it complies with privacy laws.

In a news release Thursday, Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said she
decided to launch her investigation after receiving numerous
complaints that the information collected by the meters may breach
personal privacy.

"The privacy and security of energy consumption data is a very real
issue for citizens throughout the province," Denham is quoted as
saying in the statement.

"With an increase in the frequency of the information collected from
smart meters comes an increased responsibility on B.C. Hydro to ensure
that privacy and security is built into the smart grid."

Denham said in her release that B.C. Hydro has already been consulting
with her office about the smart-meter program and has told her it
plans to co-operate fully with her investigation.

A request to interview Denham Thursday was declined by her office,
which said she won't be commenting further on the issue until her
report is complete. B.C. Hydro did not respond to an interview request
by late afternoon Thursday.

B.C. Hydro is planning to spend $930 million to install 1.8 million
smart meters across B.C.

The project is due to be completed by the end of 2012.

According to public documents filed by Hydro, the utility expects
that, over the next 20 years, smart meters will avoid $222 million in
meter-reading costs, save $208 million through more efficient grid
management and protect $732 million in revenue through better
detection of power theft, particularly from marijuana growing operations.

The new meters will also allow customers to log on to Hydro's website
and monitor their own electricity use in real time.