Resolve, To Protect Maine Electricity Ratepayers Regarding the Installation of Smart Meters

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  concerns warranting further investigation have been raised regarding the safety of smart electric meters; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Moratorium. Resolved: That a transmission and distribution utility, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 102, subsection 20-B, may not install a smart electric meter until one year after the effective date of this resolve. For purposes of this resolve, “smart electric meter” means a device capable of being read through a wireless network by a transmission and distribution utility and used by that utility to measure the delivery of electricity to a customer; and be it further

Sec. 2. Removal of smart electric meter at request of customer. Resolved: That, at the request of a customer, a transmission and distribution utility shall remove a smart electric meter from the customer's premises and replace it with an electric meter similar to the electric meter that was installed on the customer's premises prior to the installation of the smart electric meter for a fee not exceeding $30; and be it further

Sec. 3. Study. Resolved: That the Public Utilities Commission shall study the safety of smart electric meters, including, but not limited to, health risks to customers posed by these meters, and report its findings to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology no later than January 13, 2012 or 6 weeks prior to the expiration of the moratorium established in this resolve, whichever comes first. The Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology may submit legislation based on the commission's study to the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

summary

This resolve imposes a one-year moratorium on the installation of smart electric meters. It requires an electric utility to remove a smart electric meter from a customer's premises at the request of the customer for a fee not exceeding $30. It directs the Public Utilities Commission to study the safety of smart electric meters and report its findings to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology.