"Concerns about health risks and human rights complaints associated with smart meters have galvanized a local group to take action.

"Cliff Paluck with the Kootenay Columbia Seniors Housing Cooperative said BC Hydro's plan to replace all analog electrical meters with digital smart meters is utilizing harmful technology, and the group is now calling for a moratorium on the installation.

[The legal team is working with the "Coalition to Stop Smart Meters", the province wide group, as well as the Citizens for Safe Technology Society. We are happy to have support from Kamloops and anywhere else as this is a major undertaking.  The cease and desist complaint was filed December 22, charging that Hydro has overstepped the authority given to it under the Clean Energy Act.  Nowhere was Hydro given approval to install wireless transmitters on people's homes, and neither was it given authority to install a Zigbee chip which is capable of gathering and transmitting personal data not needed for billing purposes.  Please check the website www.stopsmartmetersbc.ca, and donate to keep our legal battle going.  This is major and we encourage all to help fight this undemocratic, dangerous and invasive program.]

"Representing over 100 people in the cooperative, Paluck said there were many people who felt the province's Crown corporation had not done its due diligence on the health effects of smart meters.

"This needs to be stopped," he said. "There are harmful side effects from the electro-magnetic radiation being emitted by the meters, 24-7."

"According to studies from around the world -- the University at Albany, Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Trent University in Peterborough, Ont. -- roughly 35 per cent of the population will have adverse reactions to the meters, Paluck said. Further, six per cent of the population is very sensitive to electro-magnetic radiation . . .

"Those interested in joining the Kootenay Chapter of concerned citizens, you can contact Cliff Payluck here.