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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 126 FILED ON: 1/8/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2306
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Michael O. Moore
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to smart meters.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Michael O. MooreSecond WorcesterRyan C. FattmanWorcester and Hampden2/25/2025Estela A. Reyes4th Essex3/3/2025 1 of 4
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 126 FILED ON: 1/8/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2306
By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2306) of Michael O. Moore, Ryan C.
Fattman and Estela A. Reyes for legislation relative to utility meters and the rights of utility
ratepayers. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2152 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to smart meters.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to
maintain public health, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public health.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 164 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by inserting after section 116B the following section:-
3 SECTION 116C: Smart/wireless utility meter information
4 a) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
5 (1) “Electromechanical analog meter”, means a purely electric and mechanical device,
6using no electronic components, no switch mode power supply, no transmitter, no antenna, and
7no radio frequency emissions. 2 of 4
8 (2) “Utility company”, shall mean an electric, gas, or water company, or town or city-
9owned utility or other utility provider.
10 (3) “Wireless meter” shall mean: Any transmitting metering device with electronic
11components and/or any electric or battery operated meter that is capable of measuring, recording,
12and sending data by means of a wireless signal from a utility consumer or member to a utility
13company, municipality, or cooperative association in a manner utilizing one-way
14communication, two-way communication, or a combination of one-way and two-way
15communication either through the meter itself or through a device ancillary to the meter.
16Common names include, but are not limited to, AMR, ERT, smart, AMI, and Comprehensive
17Advanced Metering Plan CAMP.
18 (4) “Equivalent technology” shall mean utility infrastructure that communicates data
19using wireless frequencies, but which may be undisclosed due to proprietary rights.
20 b) The department of public utilities shall direct utility companies to provide ratepayers
21the following:
22 (1) a choice of the type of utility meters to be installed and operated on their places of
23residence, property or business; among the choices offered shall be the installation and ongoing
24operation of an "electromechanical analog meter"; and
25 (2) the ability to retain and operate an “electromechanical analog meter” on an ongoing
26basis at no cost; and
27 (3) the right to replacement of a wireless meter with a non-transmitting electromechanical
28meter at no cost. 3 of 4
29 c) The utility companies shall be required to obtain the ratepayer’s written consent:
30 (1) before installing wireless meters or "equivalent technology" on the ratepayer’s
31property and
32 (2) before altering the functionality of said meters.
33 d) The utility companies shall provide written notice to ratepayers within 90 days of the
34effective date of this act for the purpose of informing said ratepayers if wireless meters have
35been installed on their properties. Ratepayers shall have the right to request that the utility
36companies remove said wireless meters and install in their place electromechanical analog
37meters that emit no radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation. There shall be no cost or other
38periodic usage charges to the ratepayer for such removal, replacement installation, and use of a
39non-wireless utility meter. The utility company shall promptly comply with such removal and
40replacement installation request made by the ratepayer to said company.
41 e) Utility companies are:
42 (1) prohibited from shutting off service to a ratepayer based on the ratepayer’s utility
43usage or on the ratepayer having electromechanical analog meters;
44 (2) prohibited from imposing any disincentive on a ratepayer for not consenting to the
45installation or use of wireless meters;
46 (3) required to notify ratepayers in writing that the installation and use of wireless meters
47are not mandated by state or federal law and are not permitted without the ratepayer’s consent;
48 (4) prohibited from discriminating against ratepayers who may have medical conditions
49that are exacerbated by exposures to pulsed microwave radio frequencies; and 4 of 4
50 (5) prohibited from installing "equivalent technology", such as direct wireless connection
51to devices in the home or business, on poles or in any other manner near the home or business of
52an individual requesting a non-transmitting meter.
53 f) The department of public utilities shall establish terms and conditions to comply with
54the requirements of this section.
55 g) This section shall take effect upon its passage.