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 legal language inserted into the current law includes provisions for the utilities to prioritize limited producers and customer-generators for access to these advanced meters, as well as stipulations regarding the costs associated with the installation of these meters. Customers interested in advanced metering will be responsible for any incremental costs beyond the standard meter replacement costs, and the specifications for these advanced meters must align with requirements for distributed energy resources participating in ISO-NE electricity markets.

Additionally, the bill emphasizes the importance of timely cost recovery for utilities implementing this opt-in advanced metering option and supporting data management systems. The existing legal language that is deleted pertains to the lack of clarity and inconsistency in utility planning for advanced meters, which the bill aims to address by requiring a structured plan for implementation. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage, and a fiscal note is pending from the Public Utilities Commission to assess the financial implications of the bill.