HF 465 (LSB 2416YH (3) 85)

HOUSE FILE 465

BY  HANSON

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to customer choice regarding the installation of certain public utility meters.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 476.6, Code 2013, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  23.
  a.  On and after July 1, 2013, a public utility shall not install a smart meter at a customer’s residence or place of business without first providing the customer the opportunity to consent to the installation or to refuse such consent, and shall offer to remove a smart meter free of charge which was installed without the customer being provided that opportunity. A public utility shall not offer to provide or provide discounted rates to customers in exchange for obtaining the customer’s consent to install a smart meter, and shall not charge a fee, assessment, or higher rate to customers choosing not to consent to such an installation. The board shall adopt rules to implement this subsection.
   b.  For the purposes of this subsection, “smart meter” means a public utility meter which is interconnected through a secured internet network connection, telephone connection, or radio frequency connection between a customer’s residence or business and the public utility, facilitating more accurate and accessible information regarding energy, water, or gas usage; peak event notifications; and reports and savings summaries.
EXPLANATION
   This bill provides that on and after July 1, 2013, a public utility shall not install a smart meter at a customer’s residence or place of business without first providing the customer the opportunity to consent to the installation or to refuse such consent, and shall offer to remove a smart meter free of charge which was installed without the customer being provided that opportunity. The bill also provides that a public utility shall not offer to provide or provide discounted rates to customers in exchange for obtaining the customer’s consent to install a smart meter, and shall not charge a fee, assessment, or higher rate to customers choosing not to consent to such an installation. The bill directs the Iowa utilities board to adopt rules to implement the bill’s provisions.
   The bill defines a “smart meter” to mean a public utility meter which is interconnected through a secured internet network connection, telephone connection, or radio frequency connection between a customer’s residence or business and the public utility, facilitating more accurate and accessible information regarding energy, water, or gas usage; peak event notifications; and reports and savings summaries.