SMARTER Act

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.