2025 -- S 0630

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LC001883

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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 -- TRANSPARENCY IN ELECTRIC

AND GAS BILLS ACT

     Introduced By: Senators Rogers, and de la Cruz

     Date Introduced: March 07, 2025

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Findings.

     The general assembly finds and declares that ensuring transparency in the electric and gas

billing process is a matter of critical public importance. Consumers have a right to clearly

understand the components of their utility bills including, but not limited to, supply charges,

delivery charges, and any public policy costs related to renewable energy and public benefits

programs. To further these goals, it is imperative that utility companies provide detailed

breakdowns of these charges in an easily understandable manner on each bill.

     SECTION 2. Title 39 of the General Laws entitled "PUBLIC UTILITIES AND

CARRIERS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 36

TRANSPARENCY IN ELECTRIC AND GAS BILLS ACT

     39-36-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Transparency in Electric and Gas

Bills Act".

     39-36-2. Definitions.

     For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and terms have the following

meanings:

     (1) "Supply charges" means the cost of generating or procuring electricity or gas for the

customer.

     (2) "Delivery charges" means the cost associated with the transmission and distribution of

electricity or gas to the customer’s premises.

     (3) "Public policy" costs refers to costs mandated by federal, state, or local policy to support

renewable energy mandates, energy efficiency programs, and public benefits programs.

     (4) "Renewable energy sources" refers to energy generation from wind, solar, hydro,

geothermal, or any other sources deemed renewable by the public utilities commission (“PUC”).

     39-36-3. Utility bill breakdown requirements.

     (a) Beginning on July 1, 2025, all electric and gas utilities operating in the state shall

include, on each bill issued to a residential or commercial customer, a clear and itemized breakdown

of all charges. This breakdown shall include the following:

     (1) Supply charges. A clear itemization of the charges for electricity and gas supply,

including a separate line item indicating the portion of the supply charge attributable to each

renewable energy source, broken down by wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and any other renewable

sources, utilized by the utility to meet the customer’s needs.

     (2) Delivery charges. A separate line item indicating the charges for the delivery of

electricity or gas to the customer’s premises.

     (3) Public policy costs. A separate line item indicating all public policy costs associated

with the customer’s bill. This shall include, but not be limited to, costs for renewable energy credits

(hereinafter referred to in this chapter as “RECs”), energy efficiency programs, and other programs

related to state or federal renewable energy mandates.

     (4) Breakdown of renewable energy mandates. A further itemization within the supply

charges to indicate the costs associated with specific renewable energy mandates. Each renewable

energy mandate should be individually identified with an associated cost breakdown including, but

not limited to:

     (i) Wind energy mandates;

     (ii) Solar energy mandates;

     (iii) Hydro energy mandates;

     (iv) Geothermal energy mandates; or

     (v) Any other renewable energy mandates.

     (b) The bill shall provide an explanation of how the customer’s costs for each renewable

energy source are determined, including the methodology used to allocate these costs and the

percentage of the customer’s supply charge attributed to each renewable energy source.

     (c) The utility shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that this breakdown is presented in a

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user-friendly format that is easily readable and comprehensible to a typical residential or

commercial customer.

     39-36-4. Public comment and review.

     (a) Beginning on January 1, 2026, each utility shall submit to the public utilities

commission (“PUC”) a proposed plan for the implementation of the bill breakdown requirements

outlined in this chapter. The plan shall include sample bills and any technology or processes

required to ensure compliance with this section.

     (b) The PUC shall hold a public comment period on the proposed bill breakdown plans for

a period of no less than sixty (60) days, during which time stakeholders, including residential and

commercial customers, consumer advocacy organizations, and other interested parties, may

provide feedback on the proposed plans.

     (c) The PUC shall consider all comments and make any necessary revisions to the proposed

plans before approving the final implementation standards for the bill breakdown requirements.

     39-36-5. Enforcement and compliance.

     (a) Utilities shall be required to implement the finalized billing breakdown plans no later

than one year after the PUC approval of the final plan.

     (b) The PUC shall have the authority to enforce compliance with the provisions of this

chapter. Any utility found in violation of these requirements shall be subject to penalties as

determined by the PUC including, but not limited to, fines or remedial actions to ensure

compliance.

     39-36-6. Public outreach and education.

     (a) The PUC shall conduct a public outreach and education campaign to ensure that

residential and commercial customers are aware of the changes to the billing system and can

understand the new bill breakdown. The outreach program may include, but is not limited to, public

service announcements, educational materials, and online resources.

     (b) The PUC shall provide utilities with guidance and resources on best practices for

explaining the new breakdown of charges to customers, particularly focusing on the renewable

energy mandate breakdown.

     SECTION 3. 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 -- TRANSPARENCY IN ELECTRIC

AND GAS BILLS ACT

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     This act would require electric and gas utilities to provide a detailed breakdown of supply,

delivery, and public policy costs on electric and gas bills, including specific costs for renewable

energy sources, and mandates public comment and PUC approval.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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