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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 15, 2015 03:17 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Mike Reese |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Smart Meter Legislation |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that combines language to amend Title 66 (Public Utilities), which I have also offered in three separate bills. Act 129 of 2008 requires electric distribution companies to develop energy efficiency and conservation plans. The Act also requires electric distribution companies to deploy smart meter technology throughout their service territories according to a 15-year depreciation schedule. Smart meter technology transmits usage data to an electric distribution company and to the consumer on an hourly basis. Many electricity customers throughout Pennsylvania have expressed their desire to not have smart meter technology at their homes or businesses. Their concerns range from securing sensitive and personal information to the health impacts of radio frequency (RF) waves. My perspective is one that questions if a government mandate was appropriate at all. This legislation addresses this matter in three ways. It would: - remove language that requires energy companies to provide smart meters. - provide consumers the ability to “opt-out” of having a smart meter and require the Pennsylvania Utility Commission to create a fair surcharge system that would be paid by these consumers. - ensure that customer consent is required before an electric distribution company share customer meter data or provide meter access to a government agency. This session, as in previous sessions, I have offered three separate bills that contained these subjects. During the 2013-2014 legislative session, these bills were introduced as House bills 899, 902 and 906. House Bill 906 was considered on the House floor in January 2014 and passed 198-0. This particular bill combines all three proposals into one bill. |
Introduced as HB396