Require customer consent for installation of a smart meter for a utility service.
Summary
House Bill 1217 would require a utility to obtain a customer’s written consent before installing a smart meter for electricity, gas, water, or other utility service. It also requires the utility to provide information to the customer about how the smart meter will be used to collect, manage, and store data, what data will be collected, and whether any of that data will be sold to a third party.
The bill further gives customers the right to request removal of a smart meter in writing. If a request is made, the utility must notify the customer of the removal date and remove the meter within 30 days. The bill allows utilities to charge up to $80 for removal and up to $10 per month for customers who choose not to use a smart meter.
Impact
HB1217 would amend South Dakota’s utility-metering laws in chapter 49-34 by adding consent, disclosure, removal, and fee provisions specific to smart meters. It would affect public utilities, municipally owned utilities, rural water systems, and cooperative utilities that provide electricity, gas, water, or similar services, and would create new customer rights and utility obligations regarding installation and continued use of smart metering technology.
Sentiment
The available vote history suggests the bill had some support but also notable opposition, with the motion to defer passing 11-2. That indicates the proposal was taken seriously enough to advance procedurally, but not without resistance. Because there are no committee transcript excerpts, the broader discussion appears to center on the policy choice of requiring affirmative customer consent and giving customers an opt-out from smart meters.
Contention
The main points of contention are likely privacy, data use, and utility operational flexibility. Supporters would favor customer control over installation and transparency about data collection and possible third-party sales, while opponents may object to added administrative burdens, the mandatory removal timeline, and the ability of utilities to recover costs through fees. The fee caps themselves may also be debated, since they partially offset customer opt-out rights while still allowing utilities to charge for non-use of smart meters.