HB 1405 - AS INTRODUCED
2020 SESSION
20-2174
10/06
HOUSE BILL 1405
AN ACT relative to the installation of wireless electric utility meters.
SPONSORS: Rep. Hopper, Hills. 2; Rep. Camarota, Hills. 7; Rep. Abrami, Rock. 19; Sen. Sherman, Dist 24
COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy
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ANALYSIS
This bill redefines the automatic electric utility meter as a remotely read meter device and clarifies the procedure for a customer to opt out of its use or remove an existing remotely read meter, with no charge to the customer.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20-2174
10/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty
AN ACT relative to the installation of wireless electric utility meters.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Public Utilities; Electric Meters. Amend the subdivision heading preceding RSA 374:62 and RSA 374:62 to read as follows:
[Smart Meter Gateway] Remotely Read Meter Devices
374:62 Property Owner's Consent Required for [Smart Meter Gateway] Remotely Read Meter Devices.
I. In this subdivision:
(a) "[Smart meter gateway] Remotely read meter device" means any electric utility meter, electric utility meter component, electric utility load control device, or device ancillary to the electric utility meter, which is located at an end-user's residence or business, and which [serves as a communications gateway or portal to electrical appliances, electrical equipment, or electrical devices within the end-user's residence or business, or which otherwise communicates with, monitors, or controls such electrical appliances, electrical equipment, or electrical devices] is an automated meter reading (AMR) device that is remotely read and which generates a wireless signal such as a radio frequency. This definition shall include smart meter gateway devices.
(b) "Electric utility" means any public utility, as defined in RSA 362:2, which is engaged in the sale or distribution of electricity ultimately sold to the public, any rural electric cooperative, without regard to whether a certificate of regulation or deregulation is on file with the public utilities commission, and any municipal electric system operating pursuant to RSA 38 within or outside its municipal boundaries.
II.(a) No electric utility that sells or provides electricity within the state of New Hampshire shall install a [smart meter gateway] remotely read meter device on or in a person's home or business without the written consent of the person or persons who own the home or business.
(b) An electric utility selling or providing electricity shall create a form that the person or persons who own the home or business must sign to opt-in to having a smart meter gateway device installed on or in his or her home or business. The form shall, in at least 12-point boldface type, state that:
(1) The opt-in is optional and one's service will not be affected if one elects not to opt-in; and
(2) The device is a "[smart meter gateway] remotely read meter device," and provide the definition in subparagraph I(a).
III. When an electric utility enrolls a homeowner or business owner for electrical service at his or her home or business, the electric utility shall disclose in writing whether a [smart meter gateway] remotely read meter device has been installed, and shall remove, or allow to be removed, all [smart meter gateway] remotely read meter devices upon written request of the homeowner or business owner. Replacement of a remotely read meter device shall be with a meter that does not generate a wireless signal and cannot be remotely read, such as a an analog meter.
IV. An electric utility may not charge a customer a fee or a higher rate for declining the installation of a remotely read meter device or for the removal of a remotely read meter device and may not include any costs associated with these actions in rates charged to a customer.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 16, 2020 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 5, 2020 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote | |
| March 11, 2020 | House | Floor Vote |
March 11, 2020: Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/11/2020 HJ 7 P. 62
: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate (Vote 19-0; CC)
March 11, 2020: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate for 03/11/2020 (Vote 19-0; CC) HC 10 P. 29
Feb. 5, 2020: Executive Session: 02/05/2020 10:00 am LOB 304
Jan. 16, 2020: Public Hearing: 01/16/2020 02:30 pm LOB 304
Jan. 8, 2020: Introduced 01/08/2020 and referred to Science, Technology and Energy HJ 1 P. 21