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Terms of Service

By accessing the proprietary "Smart Meter Login" application code, you are agreeing to be bound by the Smart Meter Program Terms and Conditions of Use, all applicable utility laws and regulations, and agree that you are responsible for compliance with all Federal and State laws. The materials contained in this application are CONFIDENTIAL and protected by applicable copyright and intellectual property law. If you do not agree with any of these terms, you are prohibited from using or accessing the "Smart Meter Login" application.

1. Consumer Agreement

  1. The (Consumer) hereby authorizes Smart Meter Program Organization (Authorized Agent) to perform a complete regulatory analysis of the factors and procedures used by the (Utility) to render billings for all of the existing consumer utility meters and any acquired during this agreement. The Authorized Agent will seek refunds and reductions in consumer utility costs. The Authorized Agent utility bill compliance analysis conducted under the following terms and conditions will cover: ALL Regulated Tariffed Services.
  2. The Authorized Agent will provide the Consumer with their expertise and guidance on regulatory compliance and support from their Smart Meter Program proprietary software technology for a minimum of twelve (12) months from this date for proper development and completion of a full term integrated study of consumer utility expenditures and billing. The Consumer hereby appoints the Authorized Agent, to work on the Consumer behalf directly with the Utility, advising the Consumer of all findings, recommendations, and negotiations. The Consumer will provide the Authorized Agent with access to any meter usage data or utility related information and communications the Authorized Agent deems essential, for the term of this agreement so that the Authorized Agent may continue performing analysis, detect further overcharges that may occur, and monitor utility compliance with regulatory requirements.
    1. Both the Consumer and the Authorized Agent mutually agree that in return for the services described above, the Consumer shall pay the Authorized Agent a membership fee of thirty five percent (35%) for each verified avoided cost in future monthly utility billing, and fifty percent (50%) of each previous utility bill refund, for a minimum term of 12 months following the activation of the Consumer proprietary Smart Meter Program. For any Consumer that uses more than 1,000,000 KWh in any month, a reduced membership fee of thirty two percent (32%) for each verified avoided cost in future monthly utility billing. After the initial term the membership fee will automatically renew for an additional 12-month term. The membership fee is guaranteed by the Authorized Agent to be fully funded through gross refunds, credits, or utility-related cost reductions in monthly utility billing.
  3. Upon fulfillment of this agreement by both parties, if there are no verified avoided costs through the application of the Authorized Agent regulatory compliance recommendations, the Consumer will owe the Authorized Agent nothing. These terms and conditions constitute the entire agreement, and can be changed only by mutual written consent.

2. Privacy Agreement

  1. Governs the disclosure of information by and between, the Authorized Agent and the Consumer as of today (the "Effective Date").
  2. As used herein, "Confidential Information" shall mean any and all technical and non-technical intellectual property information related to regulatory compliance, avoided cost, measurement, metering, and/or associated cost of utility usage or consumption from the Authorized Agent to the Consumer, including but not limited to any:
    1. Patent(s) and patent applications,
    2. Trade secret,
    3. Copyrighted information,
    4. Proprietary information - ideas, techniques, sketches, drawings, work of authorship, models, inventions, know-how, processes, apparatuses, equipment, algorithms, software programs, software source documents, and formulae related to the current, future, and proposed products and services of each of the parties, and including, without limitation, their respective information concerning research, experimental work, development, design details and specifications, engineering, financial information, procurement requirements, purchasing, manufacturing, customer lists, investors, employees, business and contractual relationships, business forecasts, sales and merchandising, marketing plans and information the disclosing party provides regarding third parties.
  3. If the Confidential Information is embodied in tangible material (including without limitation, software, hardware, drawings, graphs, charts, disks, tapes, prototypes and samples), it shall be labeled as "Confidential" or bear a similar legend. If the Confidential Information is disclosed orally or visually, it shall be identified as such at the time of disclosure. Each party agrees that at all times and notwithstanding any termination or expiration of this Agreement it will hold in strict confidence and not disclose to any third party Confidential Information of the other, except as approved in writing by the other party to this Agreement, and will use the Confidential Information for no purpose other than validation and verification of regulatory compliance, avoided cost, measurement, metering, and/or associated cost of utility usage or consumption from the Authorized Agent to the Consumer, or other party to this Agreement. Each party shall only permit access to Confidential Information of the other party to those of its employees or authorized representatives having a need to know and who have signed confidentiality agreements or are otherwise bound by confidentiality obligations at least as restrictive as those contained herein.
  4. This Agreement shall terminate three (3) year(s) after the Effective Date. The Recipient's obligations under this Agreement shall survive termination of the Agreement between the parties and shall be binding upon the Recipient's heirs, successors and assigns indefinitely. Upon termination or expiration of the Agreement, or upon written request of the other party, each party shall promptly return to the other all documents and other tangible materials representing the other's Confidential Information and all copies thereof. Each party represents and warrants to the other party that (i) it has the requisite corporate authority to enter into and perform this Agreement, (ii) this Agreement constitutes its legally binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with its terms, and (iii) its execution and performance under this Agreement, including its disclosure of Confidential Information to the Recipient, will not result in a breach of any obligation to any third party or infringe or otherwise violate any third party’s rights.
  5. Neither party shall export, directly or indirectly, any technical data acquired from the other pursuant to this Agreement or any product utilizing any such data to any country for which the U.S. Government or any agency thereof at the time of export requires an export license or other governmental approval without first obtaining such license or approval. Each of the parties agrees that the software programs of the other party contain valuable confidential information and each party agrees it will not modify, reverse engineer, decompile, create other works from, or disassemble any software programs contained in the Confidential Information of the other party without the prior written consent of the other party. The parties recognize and agree that nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as granting any property rights, by license or otherwise, to any Confidential Information of the other party disclosed pursuant to this Agreement, or to any invention or any patent, copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property right that has issued or that may issue, based on such Confidential Information. Neither party shall make, have made, use or sell for any purpose any product or other item using, incorporating or derived from any Confidential Information of the other party. Recipient acknowledges that Recipient’s breach of this Agreement may cause irreparable harm to Discloser for which Discloser is entitled to seek injunctive or other equitable relief as well as monetary damages. Neither party shall transfer or assign this Agreement to any other person or entity, whether by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other. Any such attempted assignment shall be void and of no effect. This Agreement shall be governed by, enforced under, construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of The State of Illinois without reference to any conflict of laws or principles. Each party agrees consent to venue and personal jurisdiction in Sangamon County, City of Springfield, in the State of Illinois. If any provision of this Agreement is found by a proper authority to be unenforceable or invalid such unenforceability or invalidity shall not render this Agreement unenforceable or invalid as a whole and in such event, such provision shall be changed and interpreted so as to best accomplish the objectives of such un-enforceable or invalid provision within the limits of applicable law. Neither party will assign or transfer any rights or obligations under this Agreement, including by operation of law, without the prior written consent of the other party.

Mission

OUR MISSION IS FOCUS:

AUDIT utilities according to the regulatory requirements in their service territory and according to utility company compliance with customer satisfaction for their services;

EDUCATE end use customers on utility legislation issues and promote their involvement in the regulatory decision-making process of Commissions across the US;

ENSURE utility services are provided in an efficient AND environmentally responsible manner according to the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act;

FAIRNESS in transactions between utilities and their customers, provided with protection under the law;

TARIFF RELIABILITY that ensures sufficient alternatives available to meet the needs of present and future utility customers at reasonable rates;

FAIR RATE OF RETURN for utility services to utility investors and end use customers;

PROTECT the interests and needs of a diverse utility customer base;

In all of the above, we consider and balance diverse perspectives and we endeavor to protect the environment, and the public interest.

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Vision

OUR VISION IS CLEAR:

Use our expertise to audit utility service through regulations, rules, rates, and other actions so that all Members can depend on the availability of affordable, reliable, environmentally sound, and safe services.

The markets in which we conduct our audits are utility service territories governed by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.

Our goal is that all utility services reflect and balance the needs and expectations of our Members.

Members have knowledge of and access to a variety of services.

Innovation is valued and encouraged, as a means to fulfill our Member expectations.

Technology is state of the art, and makes wise use of utility resources.

Quality is defined by our Members' utility bill savings results.

TO MEET THIS VISION WE WILL:

Focus on the "BIG PICTURE" in policy development to accomplish utility customer satisfaction. Protect the public and our Member interests, and simultaneously allow utilities to manage their businesses without undue interference, enabling them to excel in serving our Members.

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Results

Frequently Asked Questions

The Smart Meter Program analyzes utility charges on behalf of each member. Bills are audited, usage is profiled, errors identified, cost-saving recommendations are made, and utility compliance is enforced. The Smart Meter Program will continue to monitor each member utility bill on a monthly basis to ensure accuracy and prevent future overcharges.

A smart meter is the utility company cash register for charging every item of service on a monthly utility bill. The Smart Meter Program guarantees the correct price for every item of service on the monthly utility bill.

The Smart Meter Program precision is so certain that utility charges will be reduced that the program is provided on a membership contingency fee basis . . . no results, no fee.

UTILITY BILL SAVINGS