2024 -- S 3066

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LC006047

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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 -- PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

     

     Introduced By: Senators Euer, Sosnowski, and DiMario

     Date Introduced: May 09, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 39-1 of the General Laws entitled "Public Utilities Commission" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     39-1-63. Gas and electric utility customer bills.

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     (a) Each electric distribution company as defined by § 39-1-2(a) and each gas distribution

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company included as a public utility as defined in § 39-1-2(a) shall provide a copy of the form,

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content, and design of proposed bills to be sent to customers.

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     (b) The commission shall have the authority at any time to review the form, content, and

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design of electric and/or gas bills used by any gas or electric utility for billing customers and require

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any modifications that the commission finds:

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     (1) Are in the public interest; or

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     (2) Would in the commission’s discretion be beneficial for the advancement of any

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significant energy or environmental policy initiatives in law or regulatory policy determined by the

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commission.

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     (c) If any modification(s) ordered by the commission pursuant to the provisions of

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subsection (b) of this section should require significant billing system changes, the commission

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shall provide a reasonable amount of time for the gas or electric utility to make the required

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modifications.

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     (d) To the extent that a gas or electric utility makes material changes to the form, content,

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or design of the bills sent to customers, the gas or electric utility shall file a copy of the new bill

 

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with the commission with a complete explanation of the changes. The filing is not required to be

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made prior to implementation, but shall be made no later than sixty (60) days after any material

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change has been put into effect for billing. The commission shall open a docket to receive public

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comment and, if necessary, hold hearings to review the change.

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     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 -- PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

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     This act would require that electric and gas companies provide a copy of the form, content

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and design of their bills to the public utility commission (PUC). The act would also authorize the

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public utilities commission to review the form, content, and design of electric and gas bills and

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require any modifications that the commission finds (1) would be in the public interest, or (2) would

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be beneficial to any significant energy or environmental policy initiative.

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     This act would change the utility company billing practices so that when a gas or electric

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utility makes a material change to their customer billing, they would be required to file a copy of

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the new bill with the PUC, with a complete explanation of the changes, within sixty (60) days after

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implementation. The PUC would also open a docket to receive public comment and, if necessary,

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hold hearings to review the changes.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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