We are deeply concerned about the program to install smart water meters throughout St Albert. Because of the breakneck speed at which this program is being implemented, we don't feel we have time to verify our understandings of the program but here goes.
We understand the following:
• The cost of the program is $13 million and will affect about 25,000 residences in St. Albert.
• The resident is required to give access to representatives of Neptune Technology Group or be threatened with water shut-off.
• There is a opting-out option on the outside RF transmitter which comes at a cost that will not be decided until budget deliberations at the end of the year.
• The only benefit to the resident is that high water usage can be quickly detected. High water usage may or may not suggest a leak. The suggestion of a leak may or may not lead to an early resolution of the leak, if any.
Now, right there we would say "whoa." Each residence should pay $520 to possibly be informed of a possible water leak? We ourselves watch our water usage and do not care to pay out to have someone else watch it. In fact, even at no cost we don't want the invasion of privacy that this big brotherism suggests. It is patently unfair to allow opting out on a part of the meter when the cost of opting out is yet to be determined.
But there's more. If you Google "Neptune Technology Group", you can find horror stories about Neptune and its smart meters, such as flooding and $7,000 monthly water bills. Yes, we know that not everything on YouTube is reliable but there must be some basis for these reports. The latest Gazette reported concerns about the effect of the radio frequency waves on health. This concern was sort of pooh-poohed by Kevin Cole, director of utilities. He is reported to have said that the city "believes" the meters are safe. Ouch, not much comfort there.
And finally, we are dismayed about the high-handed way in which this program is being shoved down our throats. The first formal notification of the program to the homeowner was dated November 20, 2017. It said that installations would begin in December 2017. It referred the reader to a website that said that there would be information sessions on November 29 and 30. Notice how all the plans are in place before the information sessions. Notice how little time the resident is given to decide if this program is an issue or not. And now the latest Gazette warns that "Cole confirmed that residents need to be pro-active about opting out, meaning they need to contact the city and let city staff know." There was no such warning in the notification we received from Cole. We now have to get the rules from a bi-weekly newspaper?
We believe the program should be nipped in the bud even if the city has to pay a penalty for breaking a pricey contract.
Elaine Ramsay and Vera Budzilka, St. Albert
