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Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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HB1038 • 2026

Smart meters; provide utility customers with option to decline installation of.

AN ACT TO PROVIDE ELECTRIC UTILITY CUSTOMERS WITH THE OPTION TO DECLINE INSTALLATION OF SMART METERS; TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS RELATING TO SMART METERS AND SMART METER TECHNOLOGY; TO REQUIRE THAT SMART METER TECHNOLOGY PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH DIRECT ACCESS TO AND USE OF PRICE AND CONSUMPTION INFORMATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Energy Technology
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Currie
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Smart Meters: Customer Choice Act

This bill gives electric utility customers the option to choose not to have smart meters installed and provides definitions for smart meter technology.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows customers to decide whether they want a smart meter or an analog meter when building new homes.
  • Gives existing customers the right to switch from a smart meter to an analog meter at any time without paying extra fees.
  • Requires that smart meters provide detailed information about electricity usage and costs directly to customers.
  • Requires electric companies to inform their customers about how to opt out of smart meters on their websites and through customer support.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Electric utility customers who want to choose between analog and smart meters.
  • Electric distribution companies that must provide options for installing or opting out of smart meters.

Terms To Know

Smart meter
A type of electricity meter that uses advanced technology to record usage data frequently, often hourly.
Analog meter
A traditional electricity meter that measures and records energy use without digital technology.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass in the session it was introduced.
  • It is unclear how many customers will choose to opt out of smart meters once given the option.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/16 (H) Referred To Public Utilities

Official Summary Text

Smart meters; provide utility customers with option to decline installation of.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 1038 *HR31/R260* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR31/R260
PAGE 1 (MCL\JAB)

To: Public Utilities
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Currie

HOUSE BILL NO. 1038

AN ACT TO PROVIDE ELECTRIC UTILITY CUSTOMERS WITH THE OPTION 1
TO DECLINE INSTALLATION OF SMART METERS; TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS 2
RELATING TO SMART METERS AND SMART METER TECHNOLOGY; TO REQUIRE 3
THAT SMART METER TECHNOLOGY PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH DIRECT ACCESS 4
TO AND USE OF PRICE AND CONSUMPTION INFORMATION; AND FOR RELATED 5
PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. The following words and phrases have the meanings 8
as provided in this section unless the context clearly indicates 9
otherwise: 10
(a) "Smart meter" or "advanced metering infrastructure" 11
means a meter for electricity usage that operates on smart meter 12
technology. 13
(b) "Smart meter technology" means technology, 14
including metering technology and network communications 15
technology capable of bidirectional communication, that records 16
electricity usage on at least an hourly basis, including related 17
electric distribution system upgrades to enable the technology. 18
H. B. No. 1038 *HR31/R260* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R260
PAGE 2 (MCL\JAB)

SECTION 2. (1) Smart meter technology shall provide 19
customers with direct access to and use of price and consumption 20
information. The technology shall also: 21
(a) Directly provide customers with information on 22
their hourly consumption. 23
(b) Enable time-of-use rates and real-time price 24
programs. 25
(c) Effectively support the automatic control of the 26
customer's electricity consumption by one or more of the following 27
as selected by the customer: 28
(i) The customer; 29
(ii) The customer's utility; or 30
(iii) A third party engaged by the customer or the 31
customer's utility. 32
(2) Electric distribution companies shall furnish smart 33
meter technology as follows: 34
(a) In new building construction, the electric 35
distribution company shall give the customer the choice of either 36
an analog meter or a smart meter. The electric distribution 37
company shall document in writing the choice made by the customer 38
according to a procedure adopted for that purpose by the electric 39
distribution company. If no choice is made by the customer, the 40
electric distribution company shall install an analog meter. 41
H. B. No. 1038 *HR31/R260* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R260
PAGE 3 (MCL\JAB)
ST: Smart meters; provide utility customers
with option to decline installation of.
(b) A customer has the right to opt out, at any time, 42
of a previously installed smart meter according to a procedure 43
adopted for that purpose by the electric distribution company. 44
(c) An electric distribution company may not charge a 45
customer a fee for exercising the right to opt out of a smart 46
meter under paragraph (b) of this subsection (2). 47
(3) If a customer opts out of a smart meter under paragraph 48
(b) of this subsection (2), the electric distribution company 49
shall install an analog meter. 50
(4) An electric distribution company shall include 51
information about the procedure for customers to opt out of smart 52
meters on its publicly accessible Internet website, and make such 53
information available to customers who call customer support. 54
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 55
and after July 1, 2026. 56