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Bill

S 213

An act relating to the use of advanced metering infrastructure devices

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ruth Hardy and 1 co-sponsor

VT bill shapes AMI use by strengthening privacy, data security, consumer access to usage data, consent, and oversight for utilities and third parties.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure
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Bill Summary · S 213

Summary of Bill S.213 (2025-2026) - Vermont

Title

An act relating to the use of advanced metering infrastructure devices

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes policy and regulatory framework governing the use of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) devices.
  • Aims to clarify how AMI devices may be deployed, used, and regulated, with attention to consumer privacy, data management, and reliability in energy services.

Key provisions and changes

Note: The following reflects the bill’s substantive focus as indicated by committee activity and the bill’s title. If enacted, it would typically address elements such as:

  • Data collection and privacy

    • Defines the types of data gathered by AMI devices (e.g., electricity usage, time-of-use data) and outlines protections for consumer privacy.
    • Sets rules on data access, storage duration, and who may receive usage data (consumers, utilities, third-party energy service providers).
    • Establishes requirements for data security, confidentiality, and breach notification.

  • Usage and disclosure limitations

    • Limits how data can be shared or sold, and may require consumer consent or opt-in/opt-out mechanisms for certain disclosures.
    • Addresses sensitivity of specific data (e.g., appliance-level information) and how it should be handled.

  • Utilities and AMI deployment

    • Provides guidance for electric utilities on deploying AMI technology, including standards for equipment, interoperability, and system reliability.
    • Specifies consumer notification and consent processes related to AMI installation or meter reads.

  • Consumer protections and rights

    • Grants consumers rights related to their AMI data, such as access to their own usage information and the ability to correct inaccuracies.
    • May include provisions for dispute resolution and remedies for privacy or security breaches.

  • Rate design and consumer impact

    • Addresses how AMI-enabled data could influence rate structures (e.g., time-of-use rates) and ensures protections against unfair charges or privacy-related rate impacts.

  • Oversight and enforcement

    • Establishes regulatory oversight mechanisms, potentially including reporting requirements for utilities, privacy impact assessments, and penalties for non-compliance.

  • Compatibility with other laws

    • Aligns AMI provisions with existing Vermont privacy, data security, and energy laws, and may preempt conflicting local rules.

Affected parties

  • Electric utilities and power providers operating AMI systems in Vermont.
  • Vermont utility customers and electricity consumers whose usage data is collected by AMI devices.
  • Third-party energy service providers with access to AMI data (subject to privacy and consent provisions).
  • State agencies responsible for energy policy, data privacy, and consumer protection.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure (as of 2026-03-17).
  • Recent actions show a progression through committee reviews, amendments, and formal readings:
    • Committee on Natural Resources and Energy engaged with amendments and favorable reports.
    • Passed 3rd reading and title amendment reflecting committee recommendations (2026-03-12).
    • Referred to Energy and Digital Infrastructure for further consideration (2026-03-17).
  • Sponsor details: Co-sponsors are Anne Watson and Ruth Hardy.

Practical impact and considerations

  • If enacted, the bill would shape how Vermont utilities implement AMI systems, emphasizing privacy, data security, and consumer rights.
  • Potential implications for rate design (e.g., adoption of time-of-use pricing) and consumer access to granular usage data.
  • Could introduce new regulatory requirements for disclosure, consent, data retention, and breach response.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to focus on specific sections or provide a side-by-side comparison with current Vermont law on AMI and data privacy.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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