FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) Application for a Certificate of Public ...

adopt the provisions of the Act of 2006, this will serve both to enhance electrical safety
and increase revenues to the energy authority. Put differently, those jurisdictions which
focus on theft -- and, simultaneously ignore the presence of high load paying consumers
(except for reasons of electrical safety) – will better serve the financial and public safety
interests of their customers.
Given the argument that I have set out, and the caveats attached, I cannot say with
confidence that the forecast savings (varying between $42 and $58 million over the 2012
to 2032 term) represent an accurate assessment. I can say, however, that if there are no
changes in the technologies of growing, no changes in current patterns of cannabis
distribution and export, and the status quo of criminal prohibition is maintained over this
20 year period, the savings from AMI deployment (in contrast to the status quo) should
be significant. I should add, again as noted above, that this benefit will be significantly
diminished by the potential operation of the Safety Standard Amendment Act of 2006, in
concert with AMI, within the area served by Fortis BC.
Finally, I note that the material provided to me by Fortis does not quantify the potential
public safety benefits of AMI (in relation to the dangers inherent in theft of electricity).
More specifically, the avoidance and/or limitation of fatalities and serious injuries to
citizens have economic costs that should be considered. 6
I thank you again for the opportunity to provide an opinion on this important matter.
Sincerely,
Neil Boyd
Professor
School of Criminology
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, B.C.
V5A 1S6
Appendix BCUC IR1 86.1
6 See, for example, T.R. Miller et al., Victim Costs and Consequences: A New Look,
Research Report NCJ 155282. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, National
Institute of Justice
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