Gulf Islands Every Second Thursday & Online ‘24/7’ at Uniting The Salish Sea ~ From Coast to Coast to Coast islandtides.com Canadian Publications Mail Product Volume 23 Number 16 August 11–24, 2011 $2 at Selected Retailers Sales Agreement Nº 40020421 Photo: Paul Petrie Youngsters present high scorers with island-grown bouquets at Pender Island’s fundraising bocce tournament on July 31. Over 100 people played on 12 courts at the community hall and raised over $5,000 to be matched by an anonymous donor for a total of $10,000 towards the Brooks Point Park completion campaign. Smart meters should come last, say BC Greens ~ Christa Grace-Warrick Kinsol Trestle opens On Wednesday, July 27, BC Green Party Leader Jane Sterk held technology is pushing the agenda,’ she commented. The historic Kinsol Trestle finally reopened on a press conference at the Martin Batchelor Gallery in Victoria to Sterk was joined by Magda Havas, Associate Professor of July 28 to a crowd of about 800 people. Hikers, announce the BC Green Party position that electricity measures Environment and Resource Studies at Trent University. Havas’ cyclists and horseback riders can now enjoy this such as feed-in tariffs, time-of-day pricing, conservation research focuses on the biological effects of electromagnetic section of the TransCanada Trail linking the incentives, programs to make homes and buildings more energy pollution. Havas also said wired technology should be used Village of Shawnigan Lake to the District of efficient, and a distributed grid should all be in place before the wherever possible, reserving wireless for those situations where North Cowichan. $7.5 million was raised for its selection and installation of a metering system. it was the only solution. restoration. A Smart Grid is what is needed, rather than smart meters, Green Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth May (MP for High above the Koksilah River, the restored Sterk says, ‘There are all kinds of things we can do before we go Saanich-Gulf Islands) was also at the press conference. She trestle includes a 187-metre (614-foot) walkway to a technology with very little benefit.’ commented that: ‘The Green Party of Canada, through a along the top and is enhanced by a trail that the Sterk says that designing a BC Smart Grid with regional resolution of our entire membership, has called for the current South Cowichan Rotary Club built down to the power self-sufficiency, public consultation and BCUC oversight inadequate Health Canada regulations to be upgraded to the river. should come first (BCUC oversight has been side-stepped by the equivalent of the EMF regulations in Germany. We are entirely ‘It was an inspiring day,’ said John Thomas, Clean Energy Act.) too complacent about the growing evidence of health effects Trail Committee Chair. The Rotary trail was well She commented that BC Hydro said it will not implement the from wireless technology.’ used, as many people wanted to view the two main conservation possibilities that smart meters introduce: Sterk said, ‘BC Hydro’s wireless smart meter program violates enormous trestle from below. time-of-day billing and feed-in tariffs. the precautionary principle. There are environmental, privacy Work on the trestle included replacing A Smart Grid design should be so attractive that people will and security concerns as well as the potential for adverse health unsound timbers and reinforcing the structure want to opt-in to a smart metering program, she says. When it risks. This is an issue that hits at the heart of democratic rights. to ensure that the historic characteristics, comes to metering, Sterk advocates wired smart meters and Individuals have no ability to opt out of a program that may including the span, height and timbered design called for the cancellation of the wireless meter program. ‘The impact the health of those with electro-magnetic sensitivity.’ 0 qualities of the original structure, were preserved. The Kinsol Trestle was built in 1920, is one of Plan a new future to connect the islands — Sara Miles the largest timber bridges in the world and the Sick of taking ferries? Wish you had your Boat Network. Island to discuss inter-island concerns highest timber trestle remaining in the own mode of transportation to move Island Futures is a new, not-for-profit such as communication, cooperation, Commonwealth. It is 44 metres high and 188 between islands? Or maybe you have a initiative aiming to build a network of transportation, trade and sharing. Pender metres long. Construction of the $7.2 million boat and want to put it to good use. private boats for Islanders to get around Community Transition will host the project began in 2010. Whatever your situation, if you are like the Salish Sea without using BC Ferries. meeting/potluck lunch, open to all, at the The reopened Kinsol Trestle will be the most Islanders and find it difficult to The maiden voyage, Monday, August Community Hall from noon-3pm. connector for the 130-km ‘Salish Sea Trail’, a There is considerable grant money proposed Victoria-Salt Spring-Cowichan trail move between the Gulf Islands, you will 15, will bring three Gabriolan sailboats circuit. More on that soon! 0 want to know more about Island Futures with skippers and passengers to Pender FUTURES, please turn to page 3 is available at these SERIOUS COFFEE locations — look for the ‘Island Tides’ yellow boxes or racks inside! Sidney—Beacon Avenue Nanaimo—Across from the Hospital Parksville—Heritage Centre Mall South Duncan—Sun Valley Mall Nanaimo—Hammond Bay Rd Courtenay—Southgate Centre, Cliffe Ave Duncan—Cowichan Commons Mall Nanaimo—South Parkway Plaza Port Alberni—Shoppers Drugmart Plaza, 10th Ave Mill Bay—Island Highway @ Frayne Rd Nanaimo—Hammond Bay Rd CO-OP Campbell River—Island Highway near Larwood Rd Page 2, ISLAND TIDES, August 11, 2011 In-depth Report by Patrick Brown Smart meters: a solution looking for a problem CHydro’s Smart Meter Program is a fine example of voluntary time-of-use rates estimated at $330 million. AT POINT ATKINSON an expensive solution looking for some expensive 6. Modernization of infrastructure for voltage AUGUST B problems to solve. The problems that have been optimization on commercial sites and the distribution assembled under the Smart Meter banner are wide-ranging; system (2011-2014): $54.2 million. PV of benefits from Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. the $930 million program includes a number of related this activity (mainly energy savings) estimated at $208 0107 13.5 4.1 0217 6.9 2.1 activities which are intended to increase the efficiency of the million. 10 0849 3.0 0.9 18 0812 12.1 3.7 WE 1633 14.1 4.3 TH 1350 7.9 2.4 distribution system, and possibly reduce demand, or at least 7. Program management and support costs (2011-2014): 2138 11.2 3.4 2005 13.8 4.2 reduce the demand peaks for which the system must be $37.0 million. 0215 13.5 4.1 0257 6.2 1.9 designed. 8. Interest during construction (2011-2014): $14.4 million. 11 0940 3.0 0.9 19 0914 11.8 3.6 TH 1710 14.4 4.4 FR 1424 8.9 2.7 BCHydro has published its cost and benefit estimates for 9. Contingencies and reserves (2011-2014): BC Hydro 2225 10.5 3.2 2029 13.8 4.2 the program in a report entitled ‘Smart Metering and provides for a project contingency of $60 million, and 0315 13.5 4.1 0339 5.9 1.8 Infrastructure Program Business Case’. a ‘Reserve Subject to Board Control’ of $90 million. 12 1025 3.0 0.9 20 1030 11.8 3.6 FR 1741 14.4 4.4 SA 1503 9.8 3.0 However, there is some question as to whether the cost The total front-end capital expenditure estimate for the 2307 9.8 3.0 2056 13.5 4.1 of supplying and installing meters for 100% of BCHydro’s entire program is $930 million (PV $779 million). 0408 13.5 4.1 0426 5.6 1.7 13 1105 3.3 1.0 21 1158 11.8 3.6 customers is actually justified by the savings from the Costs and Net Savings SA 1808 14.4 4.4 SU 1554 10.8 3.3 expected increased efficiencies. It is only when BCHydro 2347 9.5 2.9 2128 13.1 4.0 BCHydro’s estimated operating and maintenance costs for includes expected massive savings from the detection and the 25 years to 2033 is $745 million (PV $330 million). BC 0456 13.1 4.0 0520 5.2 1.6 14 1140 3.6 1.1 22 1324 12.1 3.7 prevention of ‘electricity theft’ that the business case for the Hydro estimates the total gross benefits attributable to the SU 1833 14.4 4.4 MO 1712 11.5 3.5 entire program holds up. 2210 12.8 3.9 entire program to 2033 will be $4,658 million (PV $1,629 Through the 2010 Clean Energy Act, the program was 0025 8.5 2.6 0619 4.9 1.5 million). This may be compared with the PV of the front- 15 0543 13.1 4.0 23 1432 12.8 3.9 exempted from review by the BC Utilities Commission. As end capital expenditure of $779 million, and the PV of the MO 1214 4.6 1.4 TU 1858 11.8 3.6 a result, its financial justification has not been closely 1856 14.4 4.4 2308 12.8 3.9 operating and maintenance costs of $330 million.