In a recent press release, FPSC Chairman Art Graham states,

Smart meters reduce meter and billing costs, reduce billing errors, and help the utility quickly identify service issues, but we recognize that a handful of customers want to keep their ‘non-communicating’ meters. While these customers should expect to pay a fee to cover this added

The Public Utility Commission of Texas (“Commission”) says that after years of vetting smart meter deployment through public hearings, workshops and four contested cases, no one objected to orders requiring full deployment and cost recovery of advanced meters. And when health and safety concerns were subsequently raised, the Commission evaluated these issues and concluded they

In an Order issued on January 7, 2013, the Maryland Public Service Commission (“MPSC” or “Commission”) concluded the public interest required the customers of Potomac Electric Power Company (“Pepco”), Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (“BGE”) and Delmarva Power and Light Company (“Delmarva”) (collectively “Companies”) be provided with an additional option related to the installation of

New Hampshire passed a law this summer that in my view provides the most restrictive approach to the deployment of smart meters: Customers must opt-in by providing written permission! RSA 374:62 states in part:

II.(a) No electric utility that sells or provides electricity within the state of New Hampshire shall install a smart meter gateway

Although the order was issued earlier this year, as one of the few Commissions to say no to smart meter opt-outs, I thought it was worth reporting. On December 7, 2011, the Office of Peoples Counsel petitioned the District of Columbia Public Service Commission to initiate a formal investigation to determine whether it is reasonable for

The Maine Public Utility Commission shocked the industry when it was one of the first states to open an opt-out investigation and subsequently order a smart meter opt-out. Despite taking these steps that many in the utility industry disagree with, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court recently told the MPUC it failed to adequately address the health and

I recently had the opportunity to interview the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, Robert F. Powelson, regarding his views on smart meter opt-outs and other issues affecting Pennsylvania’s energy future. Because I live and practice in Pennsylvania, I may be biased but I think Smart Grid Legal News readers will agree it is

For those who have been surprised by the wave of opt-out rulings, buckle up! The California Public Utility Commission is about to begin Phase 2 of its opt-out proceedings and it promises to be a thriller. Of course the traditional issues such as cost and cost allocation will be addressed and while important, I believe

Recently, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada conducted an investigation regarding NV Energy’s advanced service delivery program. It considered four alternatives to smart meters:

  1. Analog Meter
  2. Digital Meter
  3. Non-communicating AMI Meter
  4. Communicating AMI Meter with Limited Radio Transmissions

And the winner is: Digital Meter. The benefits cited by the Commission for this option are: (1)