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Bill

A 11138

Enacts the "smart meter transparency and consumer protection act"

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Angelo Santabarbara

Requires utilities to give clear, side-by-side billing and plain-language explanations for smart meters, plus a PSC study on impacts, costs, and protections.

REFERRED TO ENERGY
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Bill Summary · A 11138

Bill Summary: A.11138 (2025-2026) – Smart Meter Transparency and Consumer Protection Act

Overview

  • Jurisdiction: New York
  • Introduced: April 24, 2026
  • Primary Sponsor: Assemblymember Santabarbara (Co-sponsor: Angelo Santabarbara)
  • Committee: Energy
  • Intent: Require utilities to provide clear, standardized information to customers about smart meters and authorize a state-commissioned study on smart meter implementation, costs, and consumer impacts.

Main Purpose

To increase transparency and protect consumers in the transition to smart meters by mandating clear, side-by-side billing information, plain-language explanations of billing changes, and by directing the Public Service Commission (PSC) to study the statewide implementation, impacts, and consumer protections relating to smart meters.

Key Provisions

1) New Provisions for Utilities (Section 67-b)

Utilities must provide customers with:
- Clear, standardized information about smart meters.
- Side-by-side comparisons of bills before and after smart meter installation.
- Plain-language explanations of any billing changes, including:
- Time-of-Use (TOU) pricing effects
- Changes to rate structures

2) PSC-Directed Study on Smart Meters (Section 3)

  • The PSC is authorized and directed to conduct a comprehensive study on smart meter implementation, in coordination with an independent third party.
  • Scope includes:
    • Impact of smart meters on residential utility bills
    • Billing differences pre- vs. post-installation
    • Role and effects of TOU pricing and other rate structure changes
    • Customer complaint trends
    • Opt-out policies and fees:
    • Full accounting of opt-out fees charged
    • Comparison of the actual cost to utilities of accommodating opt-out customers (including installation and maintenance of meters) versus total revenue from opt-out fees
    • Evaluation of whether opt-out fees are reasonable or excessive
    • Impacts on specific groups:
    • Seniors
    • Low- and moderate-income households
    • Customers without access to digital tools

3) Data and Reporting Requirements (Section 3)

  • Utilities must provide the PSC with:
    • Side-by-side bill comparisons (pre- vs. post-smart meter)
    • Plain-language explanations of billing changes
  • PSC must include these in the study and ensure oversight

4) Legislative Reporting Timeline (Section 3)

  • Timing: No later than one year after the act’s effective date
  • PSC must submit a report to the Legislature detailing:
    • Study findings
    • Policy recommendations
    • Whether additional consumer protections are needed
  • The report must be publicly available

5) Effective Date (Section 4)

  • The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Affected Entities

  • Utilities regulated by the New York Public Service Commission (e.g., electric, gas, and other energy providers deploying smart meters)
  • New York utility customers, including:
    • Residential customers
    • Seniors and low-/moderate-income households
    • Customers lacking access to digital tools

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Immediate effect: Provisions requiring information to be provided to customers apply upon enactment.
  • Study timeline: The PSC must complete and report within one year of the act’s effective date.
  • Public transparency: Study findings and the PSC’s recommendations must be publicly accessible.

Potential Impacts

  • Enhanced consumer understanding of smart-meter-related billing changes
  • Increased transparency around TOU pricing and rate structure shifts
  • Data-driven assessment of opt-out policies and their economic implications for utilities and customers
  • Focus on vulnerable populations to ensure protections and equitable access to information
  • Possible policy refinements or additional consumer protections based on the PSC’s recommended actions

Notes

  • The bill emphasizes plain language and standardized bill comparisons to reduce confusion during the transition to smart meters.
  • It does not mandate specific changes to TOU pricing or opt-out fees but requires thorough analysis and reporting to inform potential future measures.

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

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