by Kyle Wells [email protected] Corix Utilities, the company installing smart meters into homes throughout BC, is agreeing to fix the damage done to a Powell River resident’s house during an installation.
Barbara Haagenson came home recently to find a wood panel that sits flush with her siding, boxing in her power meter, ripped off the house and hanging by an electrical box that is attached to it. The panel had been ripped off to install a smart meter. A pile of debris containing wood splinters and felt paper under-siding also lay beneath the work area.
Haagenson emailed BC Hydro with her concern. After receiving no reply she then called the company. A BC Hydro representative told Haagenson to call Corix Utilities, the company that installs the meters. Haagenson spoke to a representative at Corix who told her that they need access to the meter and that repairing any damage is Haagenson’s responsibility.
“Corix told me too bad, so sad,” said Haagenson. “So what else do I do? I don’t know.”
Jack Touhey, Corix vice-president of public and government affairs, told the Peak that in general any damage done to a home to gain access to a power meter is the responsibility of the homeowner to fix.
“Most people wouldn’t probably realize it,” said Touhey, “but according to the terms of their contract, service with [BC] Hydro or any other utility company, they really have a requirement to keep access free to those meters.”
In a later email to the Peak, however, Touhey wrote that he had looked into Haagenson’s case and decided that although the “technician had the best of intentions, it would likely have been best if he hadn’t attempted the installation given the obstacles he encountered.”
Touhey said that Corix will “make the necessary repairs” when installers are back in Powell River at the beginning of December.
In general, in situations where the meter is covered up with a box or panel, as in Haagenson’s case, the installers’ instructions are to remove whatever is covering the meter to be able to complete the installation. Touhey explained, however, that installers are “unequipped” to repair any damages they have to make.
Installers are instructed to knock on the door and talk with the homeowner before going ahead with the installation, if the owner is home. If the owner is not home then the installers proceed with their work. Installers are trained to make as little impact as possible but they have to gain access to the meter.
Touhey said he realizes many people cannot do repairs on their own and this causes some problems, but as meters are required to be accessible the cost is at the homeowner’s expense. Problems can also arise over questions about whether the damage is the fault of the installer or whether the installer’s work simply exposed pre-existing damage, so the default is to put responsibility on the homeowner.
Touhey said that in general there has only been the occasional issue with homeowners and the company takes a good look at any questions or complaints. If damages are deemed excessive or unnecessary on the part of the installer then the company will take action to correct the situation.
“We don’t just necessarily walk away from everything and say ‘no.’ We will investigate each [complaint] to make sure that...[it’s] not as the result of the activity of our technician,” said Touhey. “If we create damage as a result of our activity, that’s one thing. But if it just happens to be the state of the equipment or the installation at a homeowner’s place then it’s their responsibility and we have to pass it on to them.”
