Smart Meter Data Privacy Protection Act
Sponsored By: Representative Riley, Josh [D-NY-19]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a federal baseline protecting personal consumption data from smart meters and sharply limit how state-regulated electric utilities may use that data. It also sets reporting rules and civil remedies enforced by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general.
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- Families and electric customers would have meter data restricted to authorized operational uses only, such as billing, outage management, grid reliability, regulatory compliance, and consumer-authorized demand response programs.
- State-regulated electric utilities would have to file annual reports with the Federal Trade Commission within one month after each fiscal year describing what smart meter data they collected, how they used it, and who they shared it with.
- If a utility uses data outside the allowed purposes, affected customers would receive a bill credit equal to three times the revenue attributable to that improper use. The FTC would enforce violations as unfair or deceptive acts, may consult the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and state attorneys general could bring civil suits on behalf of residents.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Federal enforcement and bill credits
If enacted, the Federal Trade Commission would enforce the rules and treat violations as unfair or deceptive practices. Covered utilities would have to send the FTC an annual report about what smart meter data they collected, how they used it, and who they shared it with. If the FTC finds misuse, you would receive a bill credit equal to three times the revenue from that misuse, and the utility could not recover that credit from customers.
State enforcement and stronger protections
If enacted, the bill would set a federal privacy baseline but would not stop States from keeping or passing stronger smart meter data protections. A State attorney general could sue on behalf of residents to stop violations, get damages or restitution, or obtain other relief. The state must notify the FTC before filing, and the FTC could intervene; states may need to wait if a federal case is already pending against the same defendants.
No selling of smart meter data
If enacted, the bill would stop covered utilities from selling, licensing, or otherwise monetizing the smart meter data they collect. Covered utilities would only be able to use that data for billing, outage response, grid reliability, regulatory compliance, or demand response programs you authorize. The bill would only cover certain state-regulated utilities that are not wholly owned by United States persons.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Riley, Josh [D-NY-19]
NY • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]
UT • R
Sponsored 9/3/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov