Dear Supporters,
Major update in the fight against mandatory smart water meters and water shutoffs.
Last week, Katina Walton and Kelsey Bichel, two Albertans, each filed interim injunctions after their household water was disconnected for refusing a smart water meter—on August 18, 2025 and October 2, 2025, respectively.
On February 3, 2026, Justice Lee ordered EPCOR to reconnect Kelsey’s water within 48 hours.
On February 6, 2026, Justice Slawinsky ordered the Town of Olds to reconnect Katina’s water by February 9, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
Both reconnection have been successfully completed and after nearly 6 months of water deprivation, their family including young dependents can breathe a sigh of relief.
Both women have also filed Judicial Reviews, arguing, among other things, a lack of procedural fairness and due process.
In Katina’s case, 29 additional Town of Olds residents, who are facing water disconnection threats under the same bylaw, have joined the Judicial Review as co-applicants.
Separately, Kelsey has filed and served her Judicial Review against the City of Edmonton.
These cases represent an important pushback against water shutoffs used to enforce smart meter installation, and they may have broader implications for municipalities across Alberta.
A Significant Court Decision in France
Finally, I want to share an important ruling from my birth country, France. In Case Number RG 23/00149 – Portalis Number DBVX-V-B7H-OWWC, the Lyon Court of Appeal on November 20th, 2023, upheld the Saint-Étienne Court order of January 5th, 2023, which required a smart meter company to remove a communicating electric smart meter and replace it with a non-communicating one. The court confirmed that forcing installation of a communicating meter was not justified in that case, highlighting that consumer rights, proportionality, and informed consent matter in smart meter deployment.
Although the French legislative system is more aligned with Quebec’s, this case shows that:
- Symptoms reported after smart meter installation appear to be universal;
- Courts prioritize a person’s health, applying the precautionary principle whereby even if scientific certainty is lacking, proportionate preventive measures are justified;
- Private companies are contractually obligated to ensure subscribers' safety, reinforcing that public health concerns can override corporate convenience or cost considerations.
- This ruling underscores that consumer rights, health, and safety cannot be ignored when deploying smart meters.
Why the Town of Olds Matters
The Town of Olds has been singled out for the installation of what is reported to be the largest data centre of its kind, a facility known to require enormous quantities of water for cooling. This raises serious questions about water prioritization, conservation, and why residential users are being pressured or disconnected while industrial-scale water demands expand.
Another Growing Concern: Alberta’s Bill 7
Albertans should also be paying close attention to Bill 7, which is being presented as a way to “cut red tape.” In practice, Bill 7 opens the door to inter-basin water transfers.
Inter-basin transfers involve moving water from one watershed to another, something Alberta has historically restricted because:
ecosystems evolved with specific water levels and flow patterns moving water between basins can spread invasive species and contaminants reduced flows can permanently damage rivers, wetlands, and downstream users Could weakening these protections lead to major environmental consequences or irreversible ecosystem damage? Many experts believe the risk is real.
What You Can Do
Let’s continue to be pro-active.
Write your MLA about:
water shutoffs used to enforce smart meter installation the Town of Olds data centre and water allocation priorities concerns about Bill 7 and inter-basin water transfers Access to water is a basic necessity, not a bargaining tool.
We will post further updates at this link as they become available. Thank you for standing up for transparency, fairness, environmental protection, and water security for all Albertans.