As Ontario Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk reported in December, 2014, the government: “Did not complete any cost-benefit analysis or business case prior to making the decision to mandate the installation of smart meters. This is in contrast to other jurisdictions, including British Columbia, Germany, Britain and Australia, which all assessed the cost-effectiveness and feasibility of their smart-metering programs. As well, even though the electricity market in Ontario continued to change, the (Energy) Ministry never adjusted the smart meter implementation plan.”
When the government finally did do a cost-benefit analysis, Lysyk found, it overestimated savings by more than $500 million, while underestimating costs by $400 million — resulting in a near-doubling of the cost projected by the government.
The government’s response to those findings was to claim Lysyk, an accountant and former senior executive at Manitoba Hydro for a decade before she became Ontario auditor general, didn’t understand the electricity file.
Seriously. That’s what they said. We kid you not.
