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House File 154 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to customer choice regarding the installation
2of certain public utility meters.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 476.6, Code 2019, is amended by adding
2the following new subsection:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 22. Public utility meters — customer
4choice.
5a. (1) A public utility shall not install a digital meter
6or smart meter at a customer’s residence or place of business
7on or after July 1, 2019, without first providing the customer
8with educational information regarding the full scope of
9the digital meter or smart meter’s functioning and effects,
10including but not limited to health and safety warnings, and
11the opportunity to consent to the installation or refuse such
12consent by electing to keep or receive an electromechanical
13analog meter instead of the digital meter or smart meter.
14(2) A public utility shall offer to replace a digital meter
15or smart meter with an electromechanical analog meter free of
16charge and at any time upon a customer’s request.
17(3) A public utility shall not offer to provide or provide
18discounted rates to customers in exchange for obtaining the
19customer’s consent to install a digital meter or smart meter,
20and shall not charge a fee, assessment, or higher rate to any
21customer choosing not to consent to the installation of a
22digital meter or smart meter, or requesting the replacement of
23a digital meter or smart meter with an electromechanical analog
24meter.
25(4) The board shall adopt rules to implement this
26subsection.
27b. For purposes of this subsection:
28(1) “Digital meter” means a public utility meter which uses
29electronic components and produces conducted emissions.
30(2) “Electromechanical analog meter” means a public
31utility meter which is purely electric and mechanical, uses
32no electronic components, has no radio frequency or conducted
33emissions, and is not upgraded to function as a digital meter
34or smart meter.
35(3) “Smart meter” means an advanced metering infrastructure
-1-1device which uses radio or other wireless means for two-way
2communication between the device and a public utility, an
3advanced meter reading device using radio or other wireless
4means for one-way communication between the device and a public
5utility, or any public utility meter that emits wireless
6radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation or requires a direct
7current to operate.
8EXPLANATION
9The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
10the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
11This bill relates to customer choice regarding the
12installation of certain public utility meters.
13The bill defines “digital meter” to mean a public utility
14meter which uses electronic components and produces conducted
15emissions. “Electromechanical analog meter” is defined as a
16public utility meter which is purely electric and mechanical,
17uses no electronic components, has no radio frequency or
18conducted emissions, and is not upgraded to function as a
19digital meter or smart meter. “Smart meter” is defined as a
20device which uses radio or other wireless means for two-way or
21one-way communication between the device and a public utility,
22or any public utility meter that emits wireless radiofrequency
23electromagnetic radiation or requires a direct current to
24operate.
25The bill provides that a public utility shall not install a
26digital meter or smart meter at a customer’s residence or place
27of business on or after July 1, 2019, without first providing
28the customer with educational information regarding the
29full scope of the meter’s functioning and effects, including
30health and safety warnings, and the opportunity to consent
31to the installation or refuse such consent by electing to
32keep or receive an electromechanical analog meter instead of
33the digital meter or smart meter. A public utility shall
34offer to replace a digital meter or smart meter with an
35electromechanical analog meter free of charge and at any time
-2-1upon a customer’s request. A public utility shall not offer to
2provide or provide discounted rates to customers in exchange
3for obtaining consent to install a digital meter or smart
4meter, and shall not charge a fee, assessment, or higher rate
5to any customer choosing not to consent to the installation of
6a digital meter or smart meter, or requesting the replacement
7of such meter with an electromechanical analog meter. The bill
8directs the Iowa utilities board to adopt rules to implement
9the bill’s provisions.
-3-gh/rn
2of certain public utility meters.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 476.6, Code 2019, is amended by adding
2the following new subsection:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 22. Public utility meters — customer
4choice.
5a. (1) A public utility shall not install a digital meter
6or smart meter at a customer’s residence or place of business
7on or after July 1, 2019, without first providing the customer
8with educational information regarding the full scope of
9the digital meter or smart meter’s functioning and effects,
10including but not limited to health and safety warnings, and
11the opportunity to consent to the installation or refuse such
12consent by electing to keep or receive an electromechanical
13analog meter instead of the digital meter or smart meter.
14(2) A public utility shall offer to replace a digital meter
15or smart meter with an electromechanical analog meter free of
16charge and at any time upon a customer’s request.
17(3) A public utility shall not offer to provide or provide
18discounted rates to customers in exchange for obtaining the
19customer’s consent to install a digital meter or smart meter,
20and shall not charge a fee, assessment, or higher rate to any
21customer choosing not to consent to the installation of a
22digital meter or smart meter, or requesting the replacement of
23a digital meter or smart meter with an electromechanical analog
24meter.
25(4) The board shall adopt rules to implement this
26subsection.
27b. For purposes of this subsection:
28(1) “Digital meter” means a public utility meter which uses
29electronic components and produces conducted emissions.
30(2) “Electromechanical analog meter” means a public
31utility meter which is purely electric and mechanical, uses
32no electronic components, has no radio frequency or conducted
33emissions, and is not upgraded to function as a digital meter
34or smart meter.
35(3) “Smart meter” means an advanced metering infrastructure
-1-1device which uses radio or other wireless means for two-way
2communication between the device and a public utility, an
3advanced meter reading device using radio or other wireless
4means for one-way communication between the device and a public
5utility, or any public utility meter that emits wireless
6radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation or requires a direct
7current to operate.
8EXPLANATION
9The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
10the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
11This bill relates to customer choice regarding the
12installation of certain public utility meters.
13The bill defines “digital meter” to mean a public utility
14meter which uses electronic components and produces conducted
15emissions. “Electromechanical analog meter” is defined as a
16public utility meter which is purely electric and mechanical,
17uses no electronic components, has no radio frequency or
18conducted emissions, and is not upgraded to function as a
19digital meter or smart meter. “Smart meter” is defined as a
20device which uses radio or other wireless means for two-way or
21one-way communication between the device and a public utility,
22or any public utility meter that emits wireless radiofrequency
23electromagnetic radiation or requires a direct current to
24operate.
25The bill provides that a public utility shall not install a
26digital meter or smart meter at a customer’s residence or place
27of business on or after July 1, 2019, without first providing
28the customer with educational information regarding the
29full scope of the meter’s functioning and effects, including
30health and safety warnings, and the opportunity to consent
31to the installation or refuse such consent by electing to
32keep or receive an electromechanical analog meter instead of
33the digital meter or smart meter. A public utility shall
34offer to replace a digital meter or smart meter with an
35electromechanical analog meter free of charge and at any time
-2-1upon a customer’s request. A public utility shall not offer to
2provide or provide discounted rates to customers in exchange
3for obtaining consent to install a digital meter or smart
4meter, and shall not charge a fee, assessment, or higher rate
5to any customer choosing not to consent to the installation of
6a digital meter or smart meter, or requesting the replacement
7of such meter with an electromechanical analog meter. The bill
8directs the Iowa utilities board to adopt rules to implement
9the bill’s provisions.
-3-gh/rn