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 new section added to RSA 362-A outlines specific requirements for these plans, including the use of existing cellular data services for communication with the meters, prioritization for limited producers and customer-generators, and provisions for cost recovery for utilities. The bill emphasizes the importance of advanced metering technology in enabling consumers to manage their energy usage and costs effectively.

Additionally, the bill specifies that customers interested in advanced metering may need to cover the incremental costs associated with these meters beyond the standard replacement costs. It also includes provisions for rate design related to the opt-in use of advanced meters and ensures that the commission will facilitate timely cost recovery for utilities implementing this option. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.