It's a contract, lady. They get to choose the equipment and provide the power, and you pay. Don't want the equipment? YOU'RE IN MATERIAL BREACH OF CONTRACT, and you get no power.
Okay, smart-meter-hating FReepers: come out of the closet and ask your questions. I design these things for a living. I know all about them, down the the transistor.
I agree that the utility is able to dictate terms, and the ratepayer must accept the terms or lose service.
Where we part company is over whether or not this is a good thing.