Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

H.B. 577
                          GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
                                                                                               Apr 14, 2021
                                      SESSION 2021                                       HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK
     H                                                                                                  D
                                   HOUSE BILL DRH30277-LM-65A
     Short Title:   Utilities Customers' Right of Refusal Act.                                    (Public)
     Sponsors:      Representative Pittman.
     Referred to:
                                     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT PROHIBITING A PUBLIC UTILITY FROM INSTALLING A SMART METER OR
      ANY OTHER DEVICE THAT ALLOWS THE UTILITY TO CONTROL A CUSTOMER'S
      UTILITY USAGE WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING THE CUSTOMER'S SIGNED
      WRITTEN CONSENT.
 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
              SECTION 1. Article 7 of Chapter 62 of the General Statutes is amended by adding
 a new section to read as follows:
 "§ 62-159.3. Use of smart meters prohibited without signed written consent.
      No utility company shall install in or on a customer's residence or business premises a smart
 meter or any other device that allows the utility company to control the customer's usage of the
 utility provided by the company unless the utility company first obtains the customer's written
 consent to the installation, which shall be indicated by the customer's signature. Any utility
 company that installs a smart meter or other device without the express written consent of the
 customer, including the customer's signature, shall be liable for any damages to the customer's
 property or any harm to any person that may result from the installation of the smart meter or
 other device. The customer's signature indicating consent to the installation of a smart meter or
 other device shall relieve the utility from any liability resulting from the installation. If a retail
 utility customer chooses not to have a smart meter installed, or to have an existing smart meter
 removed, the utility company shall not charge the customer any fee for choosing not to have the
 smart meter in their home or place of business."
              SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to the installation
 of a smart meter or any other device that controls a customer's usage of a utility that occurs on or
 after that date.
                                   *DRH30277-LM-65A*