Ohio Adopts Smart Meter Opt-Out

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio adopted rules providing customers with the ability to opt-out of having an advanced meter.

Under the rule, now sent to the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, "An electric utility shall provide customers with the option to remove an installed advanced meter and replace it with a traditional meter, and the option to decline installation of an advanced meter and retain a traditional meter, including a cost-based, tariffed opt-out service."

Charges for such opt-out service were not determined in the rule, and will be addressed in tariff filings. Such charges, which may include a one-time fee and recurring fee, shall be calculated based upon the costs incurred to provide advanced meter opt-out service.

The electric utility shall notify the customer of the following if a customer expresses interest in using a traditional meter:

(a) The customer will be required to pay the amount of the approved tariff charge.

(b) The electric utility shall explain the facts concerning advanced meters and attempt to address any customer concerns prior to signing up a customer for advanced meter opt-out service. To the extent that the electric utility offers multiple options for the customer to obtain or retain either an advanced meter or a traditional meter, the utility shall explain each option and the associated costs and give the customer choice over the option selection.

(c) If the customer is currently enrolled in a product or service requiring an advanced meter as a condition of enrollment with the electric utility, the electric utility shall notify the customer that a different product or service must be chosen prior to installation of the traditional meter.

Case No. 12-2050-EL-ORD