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Congress·In Committee·about 1 year ago

Congress Proposes Bill to Stop Utilities from Charging Customers for Smart Grid Upgrades

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

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.
Energy Environment

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Feb 7, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Feb 7, 2025

Introduced in House

Related News

3 articles
NJ Spotlight News·about 1 year ago

Blame 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.

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6abc Action News·over 1 year ago

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.

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Shore Local Newsmagazine·over 1 year ago

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.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

SMARTER Act

Bill NumberHR 1148
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Sponsor

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.