SMARTER Act
Congress Proposes Bill to Stop Utilities from Charging Customers for Smart Grid Upgrades
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill, introduced in Congress, would change federal law to push states toward banning electric companies from charging customers for 'smart grid' projects. A smart grid is a modernized electricity network that uses digital technology to monitor and manage power flow.
- If adopted by states, utility companies could no longer add the costs of building or running smart grid systems—such as smart meters or advanced sensors—to your monthly electric bill. The goal is to prevent rate hikes caused by these specific technology upgrades.
- State regulators and local utilities would have one year to start looking at this new rule and two years to make a final decision. However, states that have already voted on or looked into similar rules in the last three years would not be required to repeat the process.
- While the bill aims to keep electricity bills lower by stopping these specific charges, it could make it harder for power companies to find the money to modernize the aging electric grid. Supporters argue it protects families from paying for expensive tech they didn't ask for, while critics may worry about the long-term reliability of the power system.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Homeowners who pay electric bills could see lower rates in the short term because utilities would no longer be allowed to pass smart grid costs onto customers. However, in the long run, this could slow down grid modernization, potentially leading to less reliable power, fewer outage-prevention tools, and reduced access to smart home energy management features that can save money.
Broader Impacts
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articlesBlame game as electric bills to jump this summer
U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew is calling for the resignation of state utility board members following a 20% rate hike. Van Drew has criticized the focus on 'Green New Deal' agendas over consumer costs, aligning with his introduction of the SMARTER Act to block smart grid-related rate increases.
South Jersey congressman calls for investigation into skyrocketing Atlantic City Electric bills
Following thousands of complaints about bills tripling after smart meter installations, Rep. Jeff Van Drew is demanding a federal investigation. The outcry led to his proposal to ban utilities from charging ratepayers for the deployment of smart grid technology.
Customers shocked by climbing electric rates; Van Drew calls for investigation
Van Drew is pushing for an audit of smart meters and a halt to shut-off notices. He argues that customers should not bear the financial burden of new billing systems and smart grid upgrades, a position codified in the SMARTER Act to prevent these specific capital costs from appearing on bills.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
SMARTER Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.