Bill > HR1148

This bill, known as the SMARTER Act (Stop Misappropriating Ratepayer Tariffs for Excessive Resources Act), aims to prohibit electric utilities from recovering costs related to smart grid system deployments from ratepayers. Specifically, the bill amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 by repealing an existing provision and adding a new standard that prevents electric utilities from charging customers for any capital, operating, or other expenses associated with smart grid investments. The bill requires each state regulatory authority and non-regulated utility to begin considering this new standard within one year of the bill's enactment and complete their review within two years. States that have already taken action on similar standards before the bill's enactment (such as implementing a comparable standard, conducting related proceedings, or having the state legislature vote on the issue within the past three years) would be exempt from these requirements. A smart grid is an advanced electrical grid system that uses digital technology to improve electricity distribution, efficiency, and two-way communication between utilities and consumers, but this bill seeks to stop ratepayers from being charged for such technological upgrades.

Business and Industry

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1148/all-info