Enacts the "smart meter transparency and consumer protection act" in relation to requiring utilities to provide certain information about smart meters to customers; authorizes and directs the public service commission, in coordination with an independent third party, to conduct a study on smart meter implementation in New York state.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
11138
IN ASSEMBLY
April 24, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Energy
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring utili-
ties to provide certain information about smart meters to customers;
and authorizing and directing the public service commission to conduct
a study on smart meter implementation in New York state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
2 the "smart meter transparency and consumer protection act".
3 § 2. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 67-b to
4 read as follows:
5 § 67-b. Smart meter transparency and consumer protection. Utilities
6 shall provide customers with clear, standardized information related to
7 smart meters which shall include:
8 1. side-by-side comparisons of pre-smart meter bills and post-smart
9 meter bills; and
10 2. plain language explanations of any billing changes, including time-
11 of-use pricing and rate structure adjustments.
12 § 3. 1. The public service commission is authorized and directed to
13 conduct a study, in coordination with an independent third party, on
14 smart meter implementation in New York state.
15 2. The scope of such study shall include a comprehensive review of:
16 (a) the impact of smart meters on residential utility bills;
17 (b) differences in billing before and after installation of smart
18 meters;
19 (c) the role of time-of-use pricing and billing structure changes;
20 (d) complaint trends from customers;
21 (e) opt-out fees, including:
22 (i) a full accounting of opt-out fees charged to customers;
23 (ii) a comparison of the actual cost to utilities of accommodating
24 opt-out customers, including but not limited to installation and mainte-
25 nance of smart meters, and the total revenue collected by utilities from
26 opt-out fees; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15614-01-6
A. 11138 2
1 (iii) whether such opt-out fees are reasonable or excessive; and
2 (f) the effects of smart meters on:
3 (i) seniors;
4 (ii) low- and moderate-income households; and
5 (iii) customers without access to digital tools.
6 3. Utilities shall provide the following to the public service commis-
7 sion for oversight and inclusion in such study:
8 (a) side-by-side comparisons of pre-smart meter bills and post-smart
9 meter bills; and
10 (b) plain language explanations of any billing changes, including
11 time-of-use pricing and rate structure adjustments.
12 4. No later than one year after the effective date of this act, the
13 public service commission shall submit to the legislature a report on
14 the study conducted pursuant to this act and shall make such report
15 publicly available. Such report shall include:
16 (a) policy recommendations; and
17 (b) a determination of whether additional consumer protections are
18 needed.
19 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
