2013 -- H 5605

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LC01530

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND

CARRIERS

     Introduced By: Representatives Costantino, Nunes, Trillo, Giarrusso, and Marcello

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2013

     Referred To: House Corporations

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 39-2 of the General Laws entitled "Duties of Utilities and Carriers"

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is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     39-2-1.5 Reasonable and adequate services -- Reasonable and just charges. --

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Commercial customers. -- (a) Every public utility is required to furnish safe, reasonable, and

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adequate services and facilities. The rate, toll, or charge, or any joint rate made, exacted,

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demanded, or collected by any public utility for the conveyance or transportation of any persons

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or property, including sewage, between points within the state, or for any heat, light, water, or

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power produced, transmitted, distributed, delivered, or furnished, or for any telephone or

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telegraph message conveyed or for any service rendered or to be rendered in connection

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therewith, shall be reasonable and just, and every unjust or unreasonable charge for the service is

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prohibited and declared unlawful, and no public utility providing heat, light, water, or power

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produced, transmitted, distributed, delivered, or furnished shall terminate the service or deprive

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any building, whatsoever, of service if the reason therefor is nonpayment of the service without

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first notifying the user of the service, or the owner or owners of the building as recorded with the

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utility of the impending service termination by written notice at least ten (10) days prior to the

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effective date of the proposed termination of service. The effective date of the actual termination

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shall not be on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or on any state-celebrated holiday.

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     (b) Any existing rules and regulations dealing with the termination of commercial utility

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service and establishing reasonable methods of debt collection promulgated by the commission

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pursuant to this chapter, including, but not limited to, any rules and regulations dealing with

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deposit and deferred payment arrangements, winter moratorium and medical emergency

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protections, and customer dispute resolution procedures, shall be applicable to any public utility

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which distributes electricity.

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     (c) The commission shall promulgate such further rules and regulations as are necessary

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to protect commercial consumers following the introduction of competition in the electric

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industry and which are consistent with this chapter.

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     (d) The commission shall administer such rules and regulations as may be necessary to

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implement the purpose of this section and to provide for restoration of electric and/or gas service

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to commercial customers.

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     (e) A customer terminated from service under the provisions of this section shall be

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eligible for restoration of service in accordance with the applicable provisions of the public

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utilities commission rules and regulations governing the termination of commercial electric, gas,

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and water service.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01530

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND

CARRIERS

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     This act would establish requirements governing the termination and restoration of

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commercial electric, gas and water utility services.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01530

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