British Columbia

Smart meters' electronic signals pose a health risk: Okanagan-Similkameen district

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen is calling for an immediate stop to the installation of smart meters.

Fortis B.C. says signals are well below recently revised Health Canada guidelines

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen is calling for an immediate stop to the installation of smart meters. ((Chris Gardner/Associated Press))

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen is calling for an immediate stop to the installation of smart meters. 

The district's board chair, Mark Pendergraft, said a recent report from 200 scientists about radiation from wireless devices, including smart meters, has convinced the board that they are a danger.

He said the board has an obligation under the Public Health Act to protect its constituents from smart meters, which he said have a high output of electronic signals over a short period of time. 

Pendergraft said he has addressed a letter on the subject to the B.C. premier, health minister and the provincial health officer.

"So that is why we were asking them to take a second look at it and really confirm whether, in particular, B.C. is comfortable with the smart meter," said Pendergraft.

According to Fortis B.C., signals from smart meters are well below recently revised Health Canada guidelines, and concerned customers can opt to have the wireless signal disabled on the new meters.