A group of concerned residents from Grandview Heights in Castlegar are concerned about the potential effects of smart meters if they are installed in the West Kootenay.
"We are a core group of concerned citizens joining with other concerned groups such as the Citizens for a Safe Technology, who have already initiated legal action calling for these smart meters to be stopped," said spokesperson Cliff Paluck.
FortisBC is preparing to apply to the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC) for an Advanced Metering Infrastructure program. Should they get approval, FortisBC will replace all existing meters with advanced (smart) meters.
According to the FortisBC website, the Advanced Meters will keep rates lower and allow the company to service customers better and quicker.
BC Hydro has already begun replacing their old meters with smart meters throughout much of British Columbia.
Opponents of the meters say they are dangerous and were forced on people in B.C. without proper consultation.
"There are many health issues that need to be clarified," said Paluck. "Neither BC Hydro nor Fortis has proven to us that this is safe technology and that's where we're at. We're being told that we are getting these smart meters and they're such a good thing for the power system."
As senior citizens, Paluck and others from Grandview Heights are concerned mainly about the potential health dangers from the smart meters.
"We've only been in existence for a couple of weeks," he said. "What we're doing is contacting as many people as we can in the region. We're trying to build the knowledge base in people so they can make proper, informed decisions. We would like a moratorium placed on this project until the health issues are studied and resolved."
A representative from FortisBC said the company is currently preparing their application for the BCUC.
"We haven't filed this application for advanced meters yet," said Neal Pobran, corporate communications advisor. "Once we do, we would go with a regulatory process and then end up with a decision for whether this project would go forward."
FortisBC, which provides energy to approximately 940,000 customers in 125 B.C. communities including Castlegar and the surrounding area all the way west to Princeton, north to Kelowna, and east to Creston, has yet to install any advanced meters and won't until and if the project is approved by BCUC.
Pobran said the company is listening to customers complaints about health issues.
"We believe they're safe, but we're still following and listening to the experts in the field like (provincial health officer) Dr. Perry Kendall who says the smart meters are safe," he said. "We'll go through the regulatory process. That's where people can talk to the commission about any health risks, if they think there are any."