Bill Text: IN HB1031 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Refusal of smart meter installation.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-01-07 - First reading: referred to Committee on Utilities and Energy [HB1031 Detail]

Download: Indiana-2013-HB1031-Introduced.html

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Introduced Version

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HOUSE BILL No. 1031

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DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL

Citations Affected: IC 8-1-2.

Synopsis: Refusal of smart meter installation. Requires an energy utility, as a condition of installing a smart meter on a customer's premises, to offer the customer an opportunity to refuse the installation.

Effective: July 1, 2013.

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Neese

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    January 7, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on Utilities and Energy.

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Introduced

First Regular Session 118th General Assembly (2013)

PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts between statutes enacted by the 2012 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

HOUSE BILL No. 1031

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    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning utilities.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

SOURCE: IC 8-1-2-34; (13)IN1031.1.1. -->     SECTION 1. IC 8-1-2-34 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2013]: Sec. 34. (a) The commission shall establish reasonable rules, regulations, specifications, and standards to secure the accuracy of all meters and appliances for measurements, and every public utility is required to carry into effect all orders issued by the commission relative thereto. Nothing contained in this section shall limit in any manner any powers or authority vested in municipal corporations as provided in section 101 of this chapter.
     (b) Rules, regulations, specifications, and standards established under subsection (a) apply to advanced metering infrastructure (as defined in section 34.7(a) of this chapter) and smart meters (as defined in section 34.7(c) of this chapter) to the extent they do not conflict with section 34.7 of this chapter.

SOURCE: IC 8-1-2-34.7; (13)IN1031.1.2. -->     SECTION 2. IC 8-1-2-34.7 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2013]: Sec. 34.7. (a) As used in this section, "advanced metering infrastructure" or "AMI" means communications systems needed

to support advanced metering functions for an energy utility's distribution system. The term includes equipment, such as a smart meter, that is installed on a customer's premises and is necessary to support the advanced metering functions.
    (b) As used in this section, "energy utility" has the meaning set forth in IC 8-1-2.5-2.
    (c) As used in this section, "smart meter" means a meter that uses two-way communication to:
        (1) collect electricity usage and related information from a customer;
        (2) transmit information described in subdivision (1) to an energy utility; and
        (3) deliver information to customers.
    (d) Before an energy utility may install a smart meter on a customer's premises, the energy utility must offer the customer an opportunity to refuse the installation. The offer must be made in a face to face communication between an authorized representative of the energy utility and the customer. The authorized representative shall:
        (1) make a written record of the customer's response;
        (2) provide one (1) copy to the customer; and
        (3) retain one (1) copy for the records of the energy utility.
A refusal remains valid until revoked in writing by the customer.
    (e) A customer who refuses an installation under subsection (d) may retain the customer's existing meter if the meter satisfies all applicable rules, regulations, specifications, and standards established under section 34 of this chapter.
    (f) Rules, regulations, specifications, and standards established by the commission under section 34 of this chapter apply to advanced metering infrastructure and smart meters to the extent they do not conflict with this section.
    (g) This section does not apply to a smart meter installed before July 1, 2013.