Following a dispute in Edmonton, Andrew Lineker and his family have launched a legal battle against Epcor Water Services Inc., the City of Edmonton, and Cliff’s Towing Service Ltd., claiming the utility company’s decision to disconnect their water supply violates their constitutional rights and was executed through unauthorized actions and authority.The case, involving trespassing on the Lineker’s Edmonton residence, raises questions about the enforceability of bylaws, the use of controversial smart water meters, and the accountability of municipally owned corporations.Andrew Lineker, his wife Wendy, and his mother Joanne — a legally disabled senior citizen — reside at their Lessard neighbourhood home with their pets.On June 19, they found themselves without water after Epcor, in collaboration with Cliff’s Towing, allegedly breached their private residence to disconnect their water supply..Security camera footage from the residence showed a tow truck from Cliff’s Towing moving Lineker’s vehicle from his driveway to the adjacent street, allowing Epcor to access the meter, before returning the vehicle to the driveway — all without the family’s permission or prior notification. Lineker noted that when his wife activated an alarm on one of the security cameras, the individuals from Cliff’s Towing reacted suspiciously, covering up their faces.“They pulled up their hoods and covered their faces,” Lineker said. “If that doesn’t seem wrong, I don’t know what does?”He further described Epcor's actions at the property: “When Epcor went up to the house, they took a picture of the notice of trespass, they never rang our bell, they never knocked. “After they disconnected the water, they never left a notice. The only way we knew definitively they had cut the water is when we tried to flush a toilet.”.Lineker, an Edmonton entrepreneur, is the CEO of Mobile Farmer’s Market, a non-profit serving seniors and food deserts for over 11 years, and owner of The Solid Gold Family, Alberta’s largest locally owned radio broadcasting company with 27 stations.A former Alberta government staffer, Lineker is no stranger to navigating bureaucratic disputes and red tape and he describes Epcor's actions as a massive overreach that has threatened his family’s basic human rights and daily life.“By disconnecting water to our residence, Epcor is effectively denying us a necessity of life,” he said.Lineker and his legal team argue this violates a right which is protected under Section 7 of the Canadian Constitution — Life, Liberty, and Security of the Person..The dispute began when Epcor, through its contractor Neptune Technology Group, notified Lineker on April 25, 2025, about plans to replace his water meter with a new smart meter.Lineker declined the installation, requesting detailed specifications for the device. He claims the company told him they would provide the information only after installation. A response he rejected.“I said no, that’s not how this works,” Lineker said.Lineker has raised concerns about the accuracy of smart meters, alleging they can pick up measurements from nearby receivers, leading to incorrect readings.“I need a total breakdown,” he said. “It may not be a smart meter, but does it still emit a frequency? I need to know this.“I (told Epcor) send everything on this meter so I can make sure my family is protected.”.He also claimed the meters have been known to reduce water pressure by 25 to 40%, a complaint he says is shared by others in the community.“Everyone I’ve talked to about this says the same thing about their water pressure dropping,” he said.This isn’t the first time Epcor's smart meters have sparked controversy.In February 2025, Edmonton resident Yaphet Derbie received a $19,000 water bill due to a “cross meter reading,” where the meter at his property did not match the one on his bill, resulting in incorrect billing.Epcor acknowledged such errors as “rare” and stated they have processes to resolve crossed meter readings, but the incident has helped to fuel public skepticism about the technology and its uses..On April 29, Lineker contacted Neptune to express his concerns and was placed on an “opt-out” list for the meter replacement.Neptune assured him his concerns would be relayed to Epcor and that the company would proceed appropriately.However, on May 9, Lineker’s call with an Epcor representative turned ugly. He alleges the representative threatened to disconnect his water if he did not grant access to the meter. Lineker says he repeatedly warned Epcor that cutting off his water for any reason other than non-payment would prompt immediate legal action.Lineker finally received an email from the City of Edmonton’s Legal Services branch on June, 10, stating that the City had “no involvement in water meter installation or any decision to maintain or shut off water supply” at his property.The email clarified that Epcor operates at “arm’s length” from the City of Edmonton, which is the sole shareholder of the municipally owned corporation..The City added that neither it nor its elected officials could “direct or influence” Epcor's operations, including meter installations or water disconnections.Despite these assurances, on June 19, Epcor and Cliff’s Towing proceeded to disconnect the Linekers’ water supply.Lineker and his wife contacted Cliff’s Towing to demand an explanation. Lineker was told the company acted on Epcor's orders to move the vehicle, while his wife was informed the company was acting on a court order.However, under Alberta Rules of Court, Epcor would have been required to disclose any such court order to the Linekers beforehand.As of June 20, no such order has been provided, leading the family to question the legality of the towing and disconnection..The Linekers’ legal team argues that Epcor's actions are not only unconstitutional but also unenforceable. They contend that bylaws cited by Epcor to justify the disconnection are invalid on private property and lack authority because the City of Edmonton, as Epcor's primary shareholder, maintains an “arm’s length” relationship with the company and bylaws do not supersede provincial or federal law. The City’s stance, as articulated in its June 10 email, suggests it does not support Epcor's enforcement of these bylaws.Legally, service providers like Epcor are prohibited from disconnecting a private citizen’s water supply except in cases of non-payment, a condition that does not apply to the Linekers. The family’s statement of claim highlights these restrictions, accusing Epcor of overstepping its authority.He has pointed to further inconsistencies in Epcor's enforcement, noting that his next-door neighbour has ignored approximately over 20 letters from Epcor about meter replacement yet retains water service..Lineker is determined to hold Epcor accountable, leveraging his platform as a radio broadcaster to raise awareness of the issue.“I’m not going to go away,” he said. “I want them to be truthful to us. Be honest. I’m going to broadcast this on all my stations and tell people step-by-step how to handle this sort of situation and win.”In response to the water shut off, Lineker is exploring alternative solutions to ensure his family’s access to water, with his main plan currently being to drill a well on his property. “I have called up a well company to find out how much to drill a well because a lot of people don’t know that if you live in a city, you can drill a well if you own the land,” he said.“There’s alternatives. The problem is a lot of people don’t know that or their rights.”.As the Lineker family prepares for their legal battle, their case highlights broader concerns about the accountability of utility providers to their customers, the reliability of smart meter technology, and the protection of basic rights.“They’re coming for us, and it’s terrifying,” Lineker said. “You hear about this stuff, but you don’t expect it in your backyard.“They think they’ve won, but, I can tell you right now, there’s ways for us to win. Epcor's not going to win this one—they messed with the wrong guy.”For now, the Linekers remain without water, relying on their resolve and legal arguments to find recompense.At the time of writing, Lineker had yet to hear anything from Epcor Water Services Inc. and Cliff’s Towing Service Ltd. since the statement of claim was issued this past Friday.Epcor Water Services Inc and Cliff's Towing Service Ltd. refused comemnt..
