Does PSEG Long Island Have an Opt-Out Program for Smart Meters?

Yes. PSEG Long Island appears to have a smart-meter opt-out option for residential customers, but it is not a free “keep everything the same” option.

The clearest current/official source I found is LIPA’s tariff proposal, which says PSEG Long Island had an existing customer opt-out population and proposed an opt-out monthly charge for customers who decline smart meters. It states that PSEG Long Island had about 4,500 opt-out customers at the time of the proposal.

A Long Island opt-out advocacy site also says PSEG Long Island grants smart-meter opt-outs to residential customers and lists the contact number as 800-490-0025, with a cited opt-out fee of $15/month as of August 21, 2019. Because that is not the utility itself, I would verify the current fee directly with PSEG Long Island before publishing the exact amount.

For your article, I would write the New York / Long Island entry like this:

Utility / Area Opt-out status PSEG Long Island / LIPA service territory Residential opt-out appears to be available, generally involving a non-communicating or manually read meter and a monthly opt-out/manual-read fee. Customers should contact PSEG Long Island directly to confirm current eligibility, meter type, and fees.

Important distinction: PSEG Long Island is not the same as PSE&G New Jersey. PSE&G New Jersey has its own opt-out program with different phone numbers and fees.