NY A08506

Requires the New York Public Service Commission to establish a statewide smart meter pilot program within 24 months, with rules and requirements to be determined through a formal proceeding.

Mandates each electric utility with annual revenues exceeding $200 million implement a pilot program covering at least 1% of its customers, with results reported to the Commission within 48 months.

Grants residential customers the right to opt-out of smart meter installation free of charge and request replacement with non-communicating digital meters for a reasonable fee determined by the Commission.

Requires utilities to notify affected customers at least 60 days before installation and address privacy concerns including data collection, storage, deletion procedures, and potential law enforcement access.

Authorizes the Commission to recover pilot program costs through a separate proceeding and allows fee waivers or discounts for vulnerable customer classes including veterans and low-income households.