11-R129
2011 -- H 5559
Enacted 03/23/11
J O I N T R E S
O L U T I O N
RESPECTFULLY
REQUESTING NATIONAL GRID TO IMMEDIATELY EMPLOY THE MOST EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGY
AND METHODS TO DETECT, IDENTIFY, AND MITIGATE STRAY VOLTAGE HAZARDS IN THE
STATE OF
Introduced By: Representatives Tarro, Ajello, Slater, Carnevale, and Serpa
Date Introduced: March 02, 2011
It is enacted by the
General Assembly as follows:
WHEREAS, On January 27,
2011, a Labrador retriever was electrocuted and killed as it
walked over a manhole cover in the city of
WHEREAS, This tragic incident was one of many instances reported
around the country
which are referred to as “Street Zaps” – stray voltage,
frayed wires, insufficient insulation, or
other deficiencies in the electrical infrastructure that
can energize conductive objects such as
manholes, lampposts, and grates and turn them into potentially
deadly hazards; and
WHEREAS, The issue is most common in northern urban climates such as
and is made even worse during the winter as snow, ice,
rain, and street salt serve as more efficient
conductors of electricity; and
WHEREAS, The deterioration of some parts of the state’s electrical
infrastructure can
increase the threat of “street zap” and represents a serious danger
to the safety and well-being of
all Rhode Islanders, particularly children and their
pets; and
WHEREAS, Technology
currently exists that can quickly and effectively detect these
electrical hazards; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That this General Assembly of the State of
Plantations hereby requests
that National Grid immediately employ the most effective technology
currently available to detect stray and contact voltage sites
throughout
National Grid provide immediate public warning of these locations and
mitigate these hazards in
a timely manner; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is
authorized and directed to
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the
Public Utilities Commission, the Rhode
Island Division of Public
Utilities and Carriers, and Michael F. Ryan, National Grid’s President
of
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LC01756
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