2025 -- H 5814 | |
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LC002065 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Lima, Costantino, Casimiro, Read, J. Brien, Corvese, | |
Date Introduced: February 28, 2025 | |
Referred To: House Corporations | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 39-1 of the General Laws entitled "Public Utilities Commission" is |
2 | hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
3 | 39-1-64. Comprehensive study. |
4 | (a) The public utilities commission (PUC), in conjunction with the division of public |
5 | utilities and carriers (DPUC), shall produce a comprehensive study for the general assembly by |
6 | April 30, 2026 to be transmitted to the governor, speaker of the house and the senate president. |
7 | (b) There shall be an appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the |
8 | hiring of consultants and experts to help research the study required in subsection (a) of this section. |
9 | (c)(1) The purpose of this study is to compile a holistic study with the sole intent of |
10 | ascertaining the best ways to lower all energy rates for the consumer including electric and gas. |
11 | Additionally, the study shall include an investigation of energy rates in other states and see what |
12 | they are doing, or not doing, to have energy rates lower than what rate payers are paying in Rhode |
13 | Island. Further, the study shall require the PUC and the DPUC to perform a comprehensive review |
14 | of all energy programs in Rhode Island that add to the cost of energy, and what programs, if |
15 | terminated, would reduce energy rates. The study shall be comprehensive and provide a detailed |
16 | review of Rhode Island energy policies and how we can learn from programs in other states. |
17 | (2) The PUC and the DPUC director shall formulate a research plan to conduct the study |
18 | and hire consultants to accomplish the study mission to find the best way to lower Rhode Island |
19 | energy costs by eliminating policies that add to the energy rates for taxpayers and any other Rhode |
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1 | Island practices that are not transparent as to the added costs that increase energy bills. The PUC |
2 | shall make recommendations that any legislation that would affect energy costs have an energy |
3 | note similar to the financial fiscal notes that clearly and transparently show the positive or negative |
4 | effect the legislation will have on energy costs. Finally, this study shall empower the PUC and |
5 | DPUC to study any other areas pertinent to the goal of lowering rate payer energy costs. |
6 | 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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1 | This act would require the public utility commission (PUC) in conjunction with the division |
2 | of public utilities and carriers (DPUC) to produce a comprehensive study for the general assembly |
3 | by April 30, 2026 to be transmitted to the governor, speaker of the house and the senate president. |
4 | The study would require the PUC and the DPUC to review all energy programs, compare them |
5 | with other states and formulate a plan to lower energy costs for consumers in this state. |
6 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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