Senate orders third reading of bill on smart meters, sets cybersecurity guidance and opt-out terms

The Vermont Senate ordered third reading of S213 after a committee report explaining the bill’s scope and provisions. The bill replaces the informal term “smart meter” with a statutory definition of “advanced metering infrastructure device,” covers both wired and wireless devices capable of two-way communication, and applies expressly to public water systems and electric utilities.

At the committee report, Senator Hardy (speaker 16) said the bill aims to balance utility system savings and customer protections: the committee retained the ability for utilities to charge a reasonable fee if a customer opts out of AMI but prohibited charging to remove an existing meter. The senator cited meter benefits such as leak detection and reduced personnel costs.

S213 adds a provision allowing the Agency of Natural Resources secretary to request that the state Cybersecurity Advisory Council develop guidance for public water systems using AMI; the guidance would not be part of permit conditions but could be issued to water systems to enhance cybersecurity. The bill does not prohibit using AMI on wastewater systems or private water systems, the sponsor said, but its statutory focus is on public water systems. The committee reported a 5–0 vote and asked for Senate support; the Senate agreed and ordered third reading.

What the bill does and does not do: it creates a flexible statutory definition for advanced metering infrastructure, authorizes guidance on cybersecurity when requested, preserves customer opt-out rights while allowing opt-out fees, and deletes expired reports from statute. The transcript records committee witness lists but does not include final vote tallies on passage at third reading on the floor.