2025 -- H 5161

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LC000765

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY PUBLIC

OWNERSHIP OF PUBLIC UTILITIES

     Introduced By: Representatives Cotter, Morales, Potter, Carson, Speakman, Fogarty,
Kislak, Slater, Giraldo, and Kazarian

     Date Introduced: January 24, 2025

     Referred To: House Corporations

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island General Laws § 39-1-1 provides that it is the declared policy

of the state “to provide fair regulation of public utilities and carriers in the interest of the public,

to promote availability of adequate, efficient, and economical energy, communication, and

transportation services and water supplies to the inhabitants of the state, to provide just and

reasonable rates and charges for such services and supplies, without unjust discrimination, undue

preferences or advantages, or unfair or destructive competitive practices, and to cooperate with

other states and agencies of the federal government in promoting and coordinating efforts to

achieve realization of this policy”; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island General Laws § 39-1-1 further provides that as of 1996, lower

retail electricity rates would promote the state’s economy and the health and general welfare of

the citizens of Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, This section was further amended to provide that as of 2006, the prices of

energy, including especially fossil fuels and electricity, were rising faster than the cost of living

and the subject of sharp fluctuations, which conditions created hardship for many households,

institutions, organizations, and businesses in the state; and

     WHEREAS, Despite many legislative innovations in the area of public utilities, the 2006

findings and declarations referenced above remain an accurate description of the current situation

for many residents of the state with regard to public utilities; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission to study public ownership of public

utilities be and the same is hereby created consisting of fifteen (15) members: three (3) of whom

shall be members of the House of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political

party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; three (3) of whom shall be members of the

Senate, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of

the Senate; one of whom shall be the Chairperson of the Rhode Island Public Utilities

Commission, or designee; one of whom shall be the Administrator of the Division of Public

Utilities, or designee; one of whom shall be a representative of a public utilities provider of

natural gas in Rhode Island, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a

representative of a public utilities provider of electricity in Rhode Island, to be appointed by the

President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a representative from an entity that provides energy

budget management for commercial consumers in Rhode Island, to be appointed by the Speaker

of the House; two (2) of whom shall be representatives from the International Brotherhood of

Electrical Workers, appointed from local unions located in the state, one representative to be

appointed by the Speaker of the House and one representative to be appointed by the President of

the Senate; and two (2) of whom shall be representatives from public interest and consumer

groups which advocate for consumer rights, one of whom to be appointed by the Speaker of the

House and one of whom to be appointed by the President of the Senate.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study

commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing

authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator; provided

that, the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which is entitled to the

appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to evaluate and make actionable

recommendations to the General Assembly on natural gas and electricity making, generation,

distribution, supply, purchase, and sale, to commercial, industrial, and residential customers

throughout the state. The study commission shall consult with other individuals who have

relevant expertise as needed.

     More specifically, the study commission shall study and make recommendations on the

following:

     (1) State-wide state, municipal or cooperative ownership of natural gas making,

distribution, supply, purchase and sale, and electricity generation and distribution to commercial,

industrial and residential customers in cities, suburban regions and rural areas;

     (2) Potential application in Rhode Island of the state of Nebraska’s “Neighbor’s First”

model of public ownership by municipal utilities, electric cooperatives or public power districts;

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     (3) The performance of private utilities versus publicly-owned utilities;

     (4) The governance structure of public ownership of natural gas making, distribution,

supply, purchase and sale, and electricity generation and distribution to commercial, industrial

and residential customers throughout the state including, but not limited to:

     (i) Cost of infrastructure, including development of construction projects that benefit the

state as a whole but are too big or too expensive for any one municipal or regional entity, such,

geothermal power plants, offshore wind farms or “pumped storage” hydropower facilities that can

bank electricity from solar or wind farms;

     (ii) Cost savings to consumers;

     (iii) Access to low cost debt;

     (iv) Ability to facilitate rapid transition to one hundred percent (100%) renewable energy;

     (v) Access to new technology;

     (vi) Productivity;

     (vii) Union participation;

     (viii) Service to large cities, suburban regions, densely populated rural areas and sparsely

populated rural areas;

     (ix) Profits from publicly-owned utilities that can be made available for cross

subsidization for other public services, such as public transportation; and

     (x) The state as a shareholder of privately-owned electric companies and gas companies.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate and shall select, from among the

legislators, co-chairpersons.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

General Assembly no later than April 16, 2026, and said commission shall expire on May 27,

2026.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY PUBLIC

OWNERSHIP OF PUBLIC UTILITIES

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     This Joint Resolution would create a special joint legislative study commission to study

public ownership of certain public utilities, including electricity and natural gas. The commission

would report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than April 16,

2026, and would expire on May 27, 2026.

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