Electric utilities required to obtain consent to install certain electric meters.
Summary
HF 2633 would create a new section of Minnesota Statutes requiring electric utilities to obtain written consent before installing certain “smart meter gateway devices” on or in a home or business. The bill defines those devices broadly to include electric meters, meter components, load control devices, and related equipment that can communicate with, monitor, or control appliances or electrical devices inside the premises. Utilities would have to use an opt-in form, in bold 12-point type, stating that consent is optional and that service will not be affected if the owner declines.
The bill also requires utilities, when enrolling a homeowner or business owner for electric service, to disclose in writing whether such a device has been installed. If the owner makes a written request, the utility must remove the device or allow its removal. In practical terms, the bill shifts control over installation and continued use of these devices toward property owners and away from utility discretion, while creating a new disclosure and consent framework for utility metering equipment.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would add a new consent and disclosure requirement to Minnesota Statutes chapter 216B governing electric utilities. It would limit utilities’ ability to install smart meter gateway devices without affirmative written permission from the property owner, require standardized opt-in language, and create an obligation to disclose installation status and accommodate removal requests. The affected parties would include electric utilities, residential and commercial property owners, and customers receiving electric service at premises equipped with advanced metering or load-control technology.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded votes, so there is no documented debate or formal vote history to gauge sentiment. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to reflect privacy- and property-rights concerns, with an emphasis on voluntary participation and customer choice. The bill’s framing suggests support from those skeptical of utility-installed smart meter technology and likely opposition from utilities or advocates of broader deployment of advanced metering systems.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely whether utilities should be allowed to install smart meter gateway devices as part of modern grid management without individual written consent. Supporters would likely emphasize informed consent, privacy, and the right of property owners to control devices that can monitor or interact with in-home equipment. Opponents would likely argue that the bill could complicate utility operations, reduce deployment of advanced metering infrastructure, and create administrative burdens around opt-in forms, disclosures, and removal requests. The broad definition of “smart meter gateway device” may also be contentious because it could capture a wide range of utility equipment beyond traditional meters.