NY State Senate Bill 2025-S8515

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Sep 26, 2025	referred to rules

2025-S8515 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A3978
Current Committee:: Senate Rules
Law Section:: Public Service Law
Laws Affected:: Add §§67-b & 89-q, Pub Serv L

2025-S8515 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Enacts the "consumer utility meter choice protection act"; allows customers to decline the installation of smart meters without being liable for fees.

2025-S8515 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8515REVISED 9/30/25

SPONSOR: RYAN C
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public service law, in relation to advanced metering
infrastructure

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To protect the rights of utility consumers by granting them the choice
to decline the installation or continued use of smart utility meters
without incurring any fees, penalties, or service charges.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 Sub-Section 2 is amended to add a new

Section 67-B to the Public Service Law to include the following:  It
shall be the right of every customer of an electric and/or gas corpo-
ration, at no penalty, fee or service charge to decline the permission
of such customer's electric and/or gas corporation (a) to replace an

existing meter at such customer's premises that is assigned to such
customer's account with a two-way smart meter, or

(b) to install any two-way smart meter device at such customer's proper-
ty without such customer's consent.

(a) The customer shall have the right to decline such customer's elec-
tric and/or gas corporation from installing a two-way smart meter with
no fee, penalty or service charge;

(b) The customer may, at any point during a period of three hundred
sixty-five days following the installation of a two-way smart meter,
require the removal of such device with no fee, penalty or service
charge;

(c) The customer may be liable for a fee to be determined by the commis-
sion for the removal of a two-way smart meter device if the customer
requests the removal more than three hundred sixty-five days following
the installation of such meter at such customer's premises.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Across New York State, many residents have expressed frustration with
being penalized for declining the installation of new digital or smart
utility meters from utility providers like National Grid. Homeowners who
prefer to retain their conventional analog meters whether due to privacy
concerns, health considerations, or simply a lack of clear information
are often faced with unexpected fees. These fees can include a one-time
charge for opting out and recurring monthly service fees, adding to the
financial stress many households already face.This issue is particularly
concerning given that companies like National Grid hold monopolistic
control over energy delivery in many areas. When there are no alterna-
tive providers, consumers are left vulnerable to policies that may feel
unfair or financially punitive, exacerbating a sense of powerlessness
and frustration.The Consumer Utility Meter Choice Protection act
addresses this problem by prohibiting opt-out fees imposed by utility
companies, ensuring that New Yorkers are not penalized for their choice
of utility meter. It also promotes transparency, requiring companies
like National Grid to provide clear and accessible information about
metering options so that consumers can make informed decisions without
fear of financial repercussions. This legislation upholds consumer
rights and promotes equitable treatment in the utility sector.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately upon enactment.

2025-S8515 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8515
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                            September 26, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. C. RYAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to advanced metering
   infrastructure
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.   Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "consumer utility meter choice protection act".
   § 2. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 67-b to
 read as follows:
   § 67-B. ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE DEVICES FOR ELECTRIC AND  GAS
 SERVICES. 1.  FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUC-
 TURE SHALL INCLUDE:
   (A)  A  ONE-WAY  SMART  METER,  WHICH  SHALL MEAN A DEVICE DESIGNED TO
 UTILIZE ONE-WAY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INCLUDING BUT  NOT  LIMITED  TO:
 (I)  POWER  LINE  CARRIER; (II) RADIO FREQUENCY; (III) WIRELESS FIDELITY
 NETWORK; (IV) TELEPHONY; AND (V) THE INTERNET TO TRANSMIT CUSTOMER USAGE
 DATA TO A UTILITY FOR THE PURPOSES OF BILLING; AND  BE  DESIGNED  TO  BE
 CAPABLE  OF  MEASURING  AND  STORING  CUSTOMER ELECTRIC AND/OR GAS USAGE
 DATA, INCLUDING TIME OF USE IN REAL TIME; OR
   (B) A TWO-WAY SMART METER, WHICH SHALL MEAN A DEVICE THAT IS  DESIGNED
 TO UTILIZE TWO-WAY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
 (I) RADIO FREQUENCY; (II) WIRELESS FIDELITY NETWORK; OR (III) THE INTER-
 NET  TO  TRANSMIT  ELECTRIC  USAGE  AND PRICING DATA BETWEEN AN ELECTRIC
 AND/OR GAS CORPORATION AND ITS CUSTOMERS, WHERE SUCH DEVICE  IS  CAPABLE
 OF  (A)  MEASURING USAGE DATA AND TRANSMITTING SUCH DATA IN INTERVALS OF
 AT LEAST ONCE PER DAY; (B) RECEIVING  IN  REAL-TIME,  PER-KILOWATT  HOUR
 (KWH) AND/OR PER (THERM) GAS AND ELECTRIC SUPPLY AND DELIVERY RATES; (C)
 DETECTING CUSTOMER SERVICE DISRUPTIONS AND TRANSMITTING SUCH INFORMATION
 TO  AN  ELECTRIC  AND/OR GAS CORPORATION; AND (D) STORING CUSTOMER USAGE
 DATA.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07588-01-5

 S. 8515                             2
 
   2. IT SHALL BE THE RIGHT OF EVERY CUSTOMER OF AN ELECTRIC  AND/OR  GAS
 CORPORATION, AT NO PENALTY, FEE OR SERVICE CHARGE TO DECLINE THE PERMIS-
 SION  OF  SUCH CUSTOMER'S ELECTRIC AND/OR GAS CORPORATION (A) TO REPLACE
 AN EXISTING METER AT SUCH CUSTOMER'S PREMISES THAT IS ASSIGNED  TO  SUCH
 CUSTOMER'S  ACCOUNT  WITH  A  TWO-WAY SMART METER, OR (B) TO INSTALL ANY
 TWO-WAY SMART METER DEVICE AT  SUCH  CUSTOMER'S  PROPERTY  WITHOUT  SUCH
 CUSTOMER'S CONSENT.
   3.  AN ELECTRIC AND/OR GAS CORPORATION MAY NOT INSTALL A TWO-WAY SMART
 METER ON A CUSTOMER'S PREMISES  THAT  IS  ASSIGNED  TO  SUCH  CUSTOMER'S
 ACCOUNT  UNLESS  IT SHALL PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE CUSTOMER NO LESS
 THAN NINETY DAYS PRIOR TO THE SCHEDULED INSTALLATION OF SUCH METER. SUCH
 NOTICE SHALL PROVIDE THAT:
   (A) THE CUSTOMER SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECLINE SUCH CUSTOMER'S ELEC-
 TRIC AND/OR GAS CORPORATION FROM INSTALLING A TWO-WAY SMART  METER  WITH
 NO FEE, PENALTY OR SERVICE CHARGE;
   (B)  THE  CUSTOMER  MAY, AT ANY POINT DURING A PERIOD OF THREE HUNDRED
 SIXTY-FIVE DAYS FOLLOWING THE INSTALLATION OF  A  TWO-WAY  SMART  METER,
 REQUIRE  THE  REMOVAL  OF  SUCH  DEVICE  WITH NO FEE, PENALTY OR SERVICE
 CHARGE;
   (C) THE CUSTOMER MAY BE LIABLE FOR A  FEE  TO  BE  DETERMINED  BY  THE
 COMMISSION  FOR  THE  REMOVAL  OF  A  TWO-WAY  SMART METER DEVICE IF THE
 CUSTOMER REQUESTS THE REMOVAL MORE THAN THREE  HUNDRED  SIXTY-FIVE  DAYS
 FOLLOWING THE INSTALLATION OF SUCH METER AT SUCH CUSTOMER'S PREMISES.
   § 3. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 89-q to
 read as follows:
   §  89-Q.  ADVANCED  METERING  INFRASTRUCTURE  DEVICES  FOR WATER-WORKS
 SERVICES. 1.  FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUC-
 TURE SHALL INCLUDE:
   (A) A ONE-WAY SMART METER, WHICH  SHALL  MEAN  A  DEVICE  DESIGNED  TO
 UTILIZE  ONE-WAY  COMMUNICATIONS  SYSTEMS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
 (I) POWER LINE CARRIER; (II) RADIO FREQUENCY;  (III)  WIRELESS  FIDELITY
 NETWORK; (IV) TELEPHONY; AND (V) THE INTERNET TO TRANSMIT CUSTOMER USAGE
 DATA TO A WATER-WORKS FOR THE PURPOSES OF BILLING; AND BE DESIGNED TO BE
 CAPABLE  OF  MEASURING  AND STORING CUSTOMER WATER USAGE DATA, INCLUDING
 TIME OF USE IN REAL TIME; OR
   (B) A TWO-WAY SMART METER, WHICH SHALL MEAN A DEVICE THAT IS  DESIGNED
 TO UTILIZE TWO-WAY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
 (I) RADIO FREQUENCY; (II) WIRELESS FIDELITY NETWORK; OR (III) THE INTER-
 NET  TO  TRANSMIT  ELECTRIC USAGE AND PRICING DATA BETWEEN A WATER-WORKS
 CORPORATION AND ITS CUSTOMERS, WHERE SUCH DEVICE IS CAPABLE OF (A) MEAS-
 URING USAGE DATA AND TRANSMITTING SUCH DATA IN  INTERVALS  OF  AT  LEAST
 ONCE  PER  DAY;  (B)  RECEIVING  IN REAL-TIME, WATER SUPPLY AND DELIVERY
 RATES; (C) DETECTING CUSTOMER SERVICE DISRUPTIONS AND TRANSMITTING  SUCH
 INFORMATION TO A WATER-WORKS CORPORATION; AND (D) STORING CUSTOMER USAGE
 DATA.
   2.  IT  SHALL  BE  THE RIGHT OF EVERY CUSTOMER OF A WATER-WORKS CORPO-
 RATION, AT NO PENALTY, FEE OR SERVICE CHARGE (A) TO DECLINE THE  PERMIS-
 SION  OF  SUCH CUSTOMER'S WATER-WORKS CORPORATION TO REPLACE AN EXISTING
 METER AT SUCH CUSTOMER'S PREMISES THAT IS ASSIGNED  TO  SUCH  CUSTOMER'S
 ACCOUNT  WITH A TWO-WAY SMART METER, OR (B) TO INSTALL ANY TWO-WAY SMART
 METER  DEVICE  AT  SUCH  CUSTOMER'S  PROPERTY  WITHOUT  SUCH  CUSTOMER'S
 CONSENT.
   3.  A WATER-WORKS CORPORATION MAY NOT INSTALL A TWO-WAY SMART METER ON
 A CUSTOMER'S PREMISES THAT IS ASSIGNED TO SUCH CUSTOMER'S ACCOUNT UNLESS
 IT SHALL PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE CUSTOMER NO LESS THAN NINETY DAYS
 S. 8515                             3
 
 PRIOR TO THE SCHEDULED INSTALLATION OF SUCH  METER.  SUCH  NOTICE  SHALL
 PROVIDE THAT:
   (A)  THE  CUSTOMER  SHALL  HAVE  THE  RIGHT TO DECLINE SUCH CUSTOMER'S
 WATER-WORKS CORPORATION FROM INSTALLING A TWO-WAY SMART  METER  WITH  NO
 FEE, PENALTY OR SERVICE CHARGE;
   (B)  THE  CUSTOMER  MAY, AT ANY POINT DURING A PERIOD OF THREE HUNDRED
 SIXTY-FIVE DAYS FOLLOWING THE INSTALLATION OF  A  TWO-WAY  SMART  METER,
 REQUIRE  THE  REMOVAL  OF  SUCH  DEVICE  WITH NO FEE, PENALTY OR SERVICE
 CHARGE;
   (C) THE CUSTOMER MAY BE LIABLE FOR A  FEE  TO  BE  DETERMINED  BY  THE
 COMMISSION  FOR  THE  REMOVAL  OF  A  TWO-WAY  SMART METER DEVICE IF THE
 CUSTOMER REQUESTS THE REMOVAL MORE THAN THREE  HUNDRED  SIXTY-FIVE  DAYS
 FOLLOWING THE INSTALLATION OF SUCH METER AT SUCH CUSTOMER'S PREMISES.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S8515

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Actions

2025-S8515 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8515 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8515 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8515 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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Sponsored By

Christopher J. Ryan

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Actions

2025-S8515 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8515 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8515 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8515 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments