Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to regulate the installation of smart meter gateway devices by electric utilities in Minnesota. It seeks to protect property owners by ensuring that they have control over the installation of these devices on their property.

Main Provisions

• Consent Requirement: Electric utilities are required to obtain written consent from property owners before installing a smart meter gateway device at their home or business.
• Opt-in Form: Utilities must provide a form that property owners can sign to give their consent for device installation. This form must be clear, in 12-point boldface type, and must state that opting in is optional and will not affect their electrical service.
• Disclosure Requirement: When a new customer is enrolled, the utility must inform the property owner in writing if a smart meter gateway device has been installed.
• Device Removal: Upon request, utilities must remove or allow the removal of smart meter gateway devices from the property.

Significant Changes

• The bill establishes a new consent requirement for the installation of smart meter gateway devices, shifting from an opt-out to an opt-in system. Utilities can no longer automatically install these devices without express permission.

Relevant Terms

smart meter, electric utility, consent, opt-in, property owner, disclosure, device removal, electricity service, communications gateway.