HF 5149

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/25/2024 02:51pm

A bill for an act
relating to energy; allowing customers to decline the installation of an advanced
energy meter; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 216B.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [216B.076] ADVANCED ENERGY METERS; OPT-OUT OPTION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Advanced energy meter" means a meter that records a customer's natural gas or
electricity use in real time and uses wireless communications technology to transmit energy
use data to a central server to be analyzed and used for billing or other purposes.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Utility" means a public utility, a municipal utility, or a cooperative electric
association.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Advanced energy meter installation; notice. new text end

new text begin A utility that proposes to install
an advanced energy meter at a customer's site must provide written notice to the customer
that:
new text end

new text begin (1) describes how an advanced energy meter operates;
new text end

new text begin (2) explains: (i) how the data read by an advanced energy meter is (A) collected, stored,
managed, and used by the utility, and (B) shared with or sold to others; and (ii) the
precautions the utility takes in order to keep an individual customer's energy use data
confidential;
new text end

new text begin (3) explains that the failure to install an advanced energy meter may make the customer
ineligible to participate in any advanced rate design programs offered by the utility; and
new text end

new text begin (4) advises the customer of the customer's right not to have an advanced energy meter
installed and describes how the right can be exercised in order to inform the utility of the
customer's decision. A customer must be given at least 60 days from the date the notice
under this subdivision is sent to inform the utility of the customer's decision to elect not to
have an advanced energy meter installed.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Advanced energy meter installation; prohibitions. new text end

new text begin (a) A utility is prohibited
from installing an advanced energy meter at a customer's site until 60 days after the date
the utility sent notice to the customer under subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin (b) A utility is prohibited from installing an advanced energy meter at the site of a
customer who has informed the utility that the customer has made the election under
subdivision 2, clause (4), to not have an advanced energy meter installed.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Higher charge prohibited. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding any order of the Public Utilities
Commission to the contrary, a utility is prohibited from imposing a higher charge to read
the meter of a customer that declines to have an advanced energy meter installed than is
charged to read the meter of a customer who elects to install an advanced energy meter.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end