HB 1336
In CommitteeHouse
Utility meter choice
Protecting utility consumer meter choice.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill gives Washington utility consumers the right to choose analog (non-digital) meters over digital ones, and requires utilities to replace digital meters with analog ones at no cost when requested. It also sets strict notice and response requirements for utilities and protects consumers who report health concerns related to digital meters.
- Utility consumers have the right to refuse installation of a digital utility meter or to have a digital meter replaced with an analog meter at no cost
- Utilities must provide 90 days’ written notice before installing a digital meter, including clear information about consumer rights and replacement options
- If a consumer provides written notice of electromagnetic sensitivity, the utility must replace the digital meter within 10 days (or 30 days in other cases)
- In multi-unit buildings, if 50% or more of consumers decline digital meter installation, the utility may not install or upgrade digital meters in that building
- Utilities must keep records for at least three years of all consumer requests to replace meters and all responses to meter installation requests
Who is affected
- Utility consumers — Individuals who use electricity, water, or gas services and live in homes or buildings with utility meters
- Consumer-owned electric utilities — Municipal utilities, public utility districts, irrigation districts, cooperatives, and mutual corporations that provide electricity to customers in Washington
- Investor-owned electric utilities — Investor-owned companies that distribute electricity to customers in Washington
- Individuals with electromagnetic sensitivity — People who report electromagnetic sensitivity and believe radiofrequency radiation from digital meters poses a health risk
- Multi-unit building operators — Property managers or associations managing multi-unit buildings where multiple utility consumers share a building
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
The bill establishes a clear consumer right to opt out of digital meter installation and to request analog replacement at no cost — reinforcing individual autonomy over personal property and data infrastructure in the home.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1); Sec. 2(2); Sec. 2(3)(b)The 10-day replacement mandate for consumers with self-reported electromagnetic sensitivity provides timely relief and acknowledges their health concerns — even if unvalidated by mainstream science, the policy affirms patient-reported outcomes and reduces psychological distress associated with perceived environmental hazards.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 2(3)(c); Sec. 2(4)(a)The 50% threshold for building-level opt-out protects tenants in multi-unit buildings (especially renters) from being forced into digital meter installation against their collective will — preserving housing autonomy and preventing potential rent increases tied to meter upgrades.
HousingPeopleRef: Sec. 2(4)(a)The 90-day advance notice and mandatory disclosure of rights may empower consumers to make informed decisions — though utilities may absorb some compliance costs, the transparency requirement strengthens consumer agency in infrastructure decisions.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 2(3)(a)-(b); Sec. 3The three-year recordkeeping requirement may improve accountability and dispute resolution between utilities and consumers — though it adds administrative burden, it could reduce litigation and complaints over meter service.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 3
Potential Concerns (5)
The requirement that utilities replace digital meters with analog ones at no cost to consumers will increase utility operational and capital costs, which utilities are likely to recover through rate increases — disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income households who spend a higher share of income on utilities.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2); Sec. 2(3)(c)Mandating analog meters in buildings where 50% or more of consumers object to digital meters may hinder grid modernization efforts, including outage detection, real-time load balancing, and integration of distributed energy resources — potentially reducing system resilience during extreme weather or emergencies.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(3)(a)-(c); Sec. 2(4)(a)While intended to protect individuals reporting electromagnetic sensitivity, the bill lacks medical or scientific validation of the claimed health risks, potentially diverting clinical attention and regulatory resources toward unverified claims while delaying evidence-based healthcare responses to actual electromagnetic hypersensitivity symptoms.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 2(3)(c); Sec. 2(4)(a)Municipal utilities and public utility districts (which constitute the majority of utilities in Washington) will face increased administrative and operational burdens complying with notice, recordkeeping, and replacement requirements — costs that may strain already tight municipal budgets, especially in smaller jurisdictions.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(4)(a)Analog meters lack smart-grid capabilities, reducing the ability to support demand response, energy efficiency programs, and integration of renewable energy — potentially slowing progress toward Washington’s clean energy goals and increasing long-term emissions.
EnvironmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(2); Sec. 2(3)(c)
Who Is Most Affected
Low-income and fixed-income households (especially renters) benefit from the opt-out and no-cost replacement provisions, but may face higher utility rates long-term as utilities recover replacement costs. They are the primary beneficiaries of the rights-based provisions.
Individuals who self-report electromagnetic sensitivity gain a fast, no-cost path to analog meters — a significant win for their perceived health and autonomy, though the policy does not address underlying medical validation.
Municipal utilities and cooperatives will face the highest relative compliance burden due to smaller scale and limited administrative capacity — though they are exempt from investor-owned utility profit pressures, they must absorb meter replacement costs.
Investor-owned utilities may pass costs to ratepayers but can spread compliance across a larger base; they may also face increased regulatory scrutiny, though their profitability is unlikely to be materially affected.
Property managers and HOAs in multi-unit buildings gain collective bargaining power via the 50% opt-out rule, but may face increased tenant turnover or complaints if they cannot accommodate requests.