Catching fire: smart hydro meters getting replaced

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: JERROLD RUNDLE
Luckily Londoners haven't been subject to the recall, but Ontarians in the surrounding area have had their smart meters recalled.

In a move that’s sure to give the Ontario government more headaches in the coming months, on January 22 a recall of almost 5,400 recently-installed smart meters was issued by the Ontario Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) to Ontario’s Hydro One.

The program – already costing twice the original $1 billion estimated – has also been previously criticized by Energy Critic John Yakabuski for not giving the energy savings that was initially projected.

“[This is] yet another example of the … government failing to respond to problems of their own making,” Yakabuski said in a statement. “We’ve been calling for the ministry to take action on this issue since August. Ensuring Ontario families are safe should not take six months.”

The smart meters have already been met with similar problems elsewhere in Canada. In summer 2014, the Saskatchewan government ordered electricity provider SaskPower to recall over 105,000 of Sensus units due to eight meters catching fire that year. The total projected cost to replace the meters with an older model is pegged at $15 million.

The at-risk meters in Ontario – also made by Sensus – will need to be replaced as well due to their possibility catching fire while operating. Investigations into the similar models installed in Saskatchewan stated wet weather and contaminants getting inside the meters caused a risk of arcing within the new meters leading to major destruction of the unit, with a possibility of damage spreading to homes using the meters also.

While 5,000 seems a large number, Hydro One stated the amount of smart meters installed in Ontario alone was 4.8 million, and none installed have caught fire yet. The ESA also stated that only one tenth of one percent of all smart meters in Ontario are affected by this recall.

At the moment, no meters in London have yet to be recalled, but surrounding areas including Brantford, Niagara region, Oakville, Sarnia and Windsor have informed residents via phone calls and emails of the possible dangers.

The ESA stressed to the public not to tamper or remove the units for their residences, as it could result in severe injury or death. More information about the affected meters can be found at esasafe.com.