Bill Text: IA SF233 | 2019-2020 | 88th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to customer choice regarding the installation of certain public utility meters.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-12 - Subcommittee: Koelker, Lykam, and Sinclair. S.J. 288. [SF233 Detail]

Download: Iowa-2019-SF233-Introduced.html

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Senate File 233 - Introduced
SENATE FILE 233
BY ZAUN
(COMPANION TO HF 154 BY
SHIPLEY)
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:
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S.F. 233
Section 1. Section 476.6, Code 2019, is amended by adding
the following new subsection:
NEW SUBSECTION . 22. Public utility meters —— customer
choice.
a. (1) A public utility shall not install a digital meter
or smart meter at a customer’s residence or place of business
on or after July 1, 2019, without first providing the customer
with educational information regarding the full scope of
the digital meter or smart meter’s functioning and effects,
including but not limited to health and safety warnings, and
the opportunity to consent to the installation or refuse such
consent by electing to keep or receive an electromechanical
analog meter instead of the digital meter or smart meter.
(2) A public utility shall offer to replace a digital meter
or smart meter with an electromechanical analog meter free of
charge and at any time upon a customer’s request.
(3) 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 digital meter or smart meter,
and shall not charge a fee, assessment, or higher rate to any
customer choosing not to consent to the installation of a
digital meter or smart meter, or requesting the replacement of
a digital meter or smart meter with an electromechanical analog
meter.
(4) The board shall adopt rules to implement this
subsection.
b. For purposes of this subsection:
(1) “Digital meter” means a public utility meter which uses
electronic components and produces conducted emissions.
(2) “Electromechanical analog meter” means a public
utility meter which is purely electric and mechanical, uses
no electronic components, has no radio frequency or conducted
emissions, and is not upgraded to function as a digital meter
or smart meter.
(3) “Smart meter” means an advanced metering infrastructure
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S.F. 233
device which uses radio or other wireless means for two-way
communication between the device and a public utility, an
advanced meter reading device using radio or other wireless
means for one-way communication between the device and a public
utility, or any public utility meter that emits wireless
radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation or requires a direct
current to operate.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
This bill relates to customer choice regarding the
installation of certain public utility meters.
The bill defines “digital meter” to mean a public utility
meter which uses electronic components and produces conducted
emissions. “Electromechanical analog meter” is defined as a
public utility meter which is purely electric and mechanical,
uses no electronic components, has no radio frequency or
conducted emissions, and is not upgraded to function as a
digital meter or smart meter. “Smart meter” is defined as a
device which uses radio or other wireless means for two-way or
one-way communication between the device and a public utility,
or any public utility meter that emits wireless radiofrequency
electromagnetic radiation or requires a direct current to
operate.
The bill provides that a public utility shall not install a
digital meter or smart meter at a customer’s residence or place
of business on or after July 1, 2019, without first providing
the customer with educational information regarding the
full scope of the meter’s functioning and effects, including
health and safety warnings, and the opportunity to consent
to the installation or refuse such consent by electing to
keep or receive an electromechanical analog meter instead of
the digital meter or smart meter. A public utility shall
offer to replace a digital meter or smart meter with an
electromechanical analog meter free of charge and at any time
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S.F. 233
upon a customer’s request. A public utility shall not offer to
provide or provide discounted rates to customers in exchange
for obtaining consent to install a digital meter or smart
meter, and shall not charge a fee, assessment, or higher rate
to any customer choosing not to consent to the installation of
a digital meter or smart meter, or requesting the replacement
of such meter with an electromechanical analog meter. The bill
directs the Iowa utilities board to adopt rules to implement
the bill’s provisions.
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