Smart meter skirmish: Maine PUC explains opt-out fee decision

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The Maine Public Utility Commission (MPUC) in May gave Central Maine Power customers who think smart meters are a health risk two opt-out choices, but the commission has since taken considerable flak for charging customers for the privilege.

Some opponents of the fees have argued that the incremental costs of providing the opt-out choices should not be charged directly to those customers but shared by all Central Maine Power ratepayers. In disagreeing with that decision, the MPUC stated "The AMI meters are now CMP's standard meter. It has been the practice in Maine that customers who desire alternatives to the utility's standard meters pay the incremental costs of the alternative metering... We see no reason to change this practice in the context of CMP's smart meter program. As a general utility ratemaking principle, customers that request non-standard devices should pay the incremental costs of those services."


Smart meter skirmish: Maine PUC explains opt-out fee decision