This bill mandates that electric distribution utilities under the jurisdiction of the public utilities commission, which have not yet implemented interval and advanced metering functionality, must develop a plan to offer such metering to customers on an opt-in basis by November 1, 2026. The plan must prioritize limited producers and customer-generators for access to these advanced meters, and customers interested in demand response services will follow in priority. Additionally, customers or their electricity suppliers will be responsible for the incremental costs of advanced meters beyond the cost of traditional legacy meters, and the specifications for these advanced meters must align with requirements for participation in ISO-NE electricity markets.

The bill also includes provisions for the rate design of the opt-in advanced metering, allowing for subscription costs for meter data management systems to be charged to customers or their suppliers. Furthermore, the commission is tasked with ensuring timely cost recovery for utilities implementing this opt-in option. The act will take effect 60 days after its passage. The bill aims to enhance consumer understanding and management of energy usage, promote energy savings, and facilitate better energy planning and cost management through the adoption of advanced metering technology.