NJ A4519

Electric public utilities must obtain written customer consent before installing advanced or smart energy meters, with consent procedures determined by the Board of Public Utilities.

Utilities must provide customers with written disclosure detailing what data the smart meter will transmit, how the data will be used, and any potential sharing of data with third parties.

Smart meters are defined as electrical meters that provide real-time usage and pricing data on at least an hourly basis, store hourly usage data, report power supply status, and enable remote connection or disconnection of service.

The bill addresses privacy concerns about smart meter data, which can reveal when homeowners are away and what activities they engage in, such as watching television or cooking.

The law takes effect 90 days after enactment.