2024 -- S 2640

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LC005040

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWERS OF

ADMINISTRATION

     Introduced By: Senators Lawson, DiMario, Bissaillon, Ciccone, Cano, Euer, Gallo,
Pearson, Felag, and Burke

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 39-3-7.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-3 entitled "Regulatory

Powers of Administration" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     39-3-7.1. Prohibited practices.

     The use of electrical “master-meters,” so-called, in apartment or tenement houses, mobile

home parks, or other similar residential complexes is permitted; containing more than ten (10)

apartments or dwelling units is hereby prohibited; provided, however, that whenever a master-

meter customer provides electricity to users who are tenants of such a residential complex, the

master-meter customer shall not charge the user tenants a rate in excess of the rate that would apply

if such users received electricity directly from a public utility this section shall only apply to

apartment houses, construction of which is commenced after July 1, 1977. Each apartment or

dwelling unit shall have a measuring device or meter for the purpose of measuring the electricity

used only by that apartment. The commission shall promulgate all necessary rules and regulations

to carry out the purposes and provisions of this section; provided, however, that this section shall

not apply to the multifamily dwellings constructed for the exclusive use of persons who are elderly

and/or disabled through public financing, whenever the organization sponsoring the construction

shall elect to use a single meter for all, or designated portions, of the housing.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWERS OF

ADMINISTRATION

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     This act would prohibit charging any rate in excess of the rate that would apply if a tenant

of any residential complex with electrical master-meters received electricity directly from a public

utility. This act would further amend the law in that its application would be for all residential

tenants, regardless of the size of the complex or the age or disability of its residents.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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