Resolve, To Protect Maine Electricity Ratepayers Regarding the Installation of Smart Meters
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0620
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: BLISS, TUTTLE, GERZOFSKY, SULLIVAN, BOLAND, DILL, EBERLE, MORRISON, PEOPLES

Legislative Document 
No. 620 
S.P. 201 
In Senate, February 17, 2011 
Resolve, To Protect Maine Electricity Ratepayers Regarding the 
Installation of Smart Meters 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed. 
JOSEPH G. CARLETON, JR. 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator BLISS of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Representative TUTTLE of Sanford and 
Senators: GERZOFSKY of Cumberland, SULLIVAN of York, Representatives: BOLAND of 
Sanford, DILL of Cape Elizabeth, EBERLE of South Portland, MORRISON of South Portland, 
PEOPLES of Westbrook. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, concerns warranting further investigation have been raised regarding the 
safety of smart electric meters; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it 
Sec. 1.  Moratorium.  Resolved:  That a transmission and distribution utility, as 
defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 102, subsection 20-B, may not 
install a smart electric meter until one year after the effective date of this resolve.  For 
purposes of this resolve, “smart electric meter” means a device capable of being read 
through a wireless network by a transmission and distribution utility and used by that 
utility to measure the delivery of electricity to a customer; and be it further 
Sec. 2.  Removal of smart electric meter at request of customer.  
Resolved:  That, at the request of a customer, a transmission and distribution utility shall 
remove a smart electric meter from the customer's premises and replace it with an electric 
meter similar to the electric meter that was installed on the customer's premises prior to 
the installation of the smart electric meter for a fee not exceeding $30; and be it further 
Sec. 3.  Study.  Resolved:  That the Public Utilities Commission shall study the 
safety of smart electric meters, including, but not limited to, health risks to customers 
posed by these meters, and report its findings to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, 
Utilities and Technology no later than January 13, 2012 or 6 weeks prior to the expiration 
of the moratorium established in this resolve, whichever comes first.  The Joint Standing 
Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology may submit legislation based on the 
commission's study to the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve imposes a one-year moratorium on the installation of smart electric 
meters.  It requires an electric utility to remove a smart electric meter from a customer's 
premises at the request of the customer for a fee not exceeding $30.  It directs the Public 
Utilities Commission to study the safety of smart electric meters and report its findings to 
the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology.