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House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	January 24, 2013 12:08 PM
From:	Representative Mike Reese
To:	All House members
Subject:	Consumer Consent to Share Smart Meter Information

In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to amend Title 66 (Public Utilities) to add “government agencies” to the list of specifically enumerated third parties where customer consent is required in order for an electric distribution company to provide access to customer meters and meter data. 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. Part of this mandate is the requirement that, with customer consent, power companies provide direct meter access or meter data to third parties including electric generation suppliers and providers of conservation and load management services. While it makes sense for certain third parties to have access to data necessary to ensure that consumers are billed properly for the services they receive, I am concerned about this information being shared with government agencies without prior consent. This legislation, one of three bills addressing smart meter technology that I intend to introduce, will ensure that customer consent is required before an electric distribution company may share customer meter data or provide meter access to a government agency. A bill similar to this, House Bill 2186, was introduced during the 2011-12 session. Co-sponsors included: EVANKOVICH, DUNBAR, BAKER, COX, CREIGHTON, GEORGE, GOODMAN, GROVE, HARHAI, HENNESSEY, JOSEPHS, LAWRENCE, MAHER, MALONEY, MURT, O'NEILL, PETRARCA, PICKETT, RAPP, SWANGER AND TALLMAN

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