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H7112 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - REGULATORY POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION (Provides that any rate increase with respect to electric distribution companies would be no greater than the increase in the Consumer Price Index or 5.5%, whichever is greater, unless there is approval of a higher rate by the general assembly)

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - REGULATORY POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION (Provides that any rate increase with respect to electric distribution companies would be no greater than the increase in the Consumer Price Index or 5.5%, whichever is greater, unless there is approval of a higher rate by the general assembly)

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Lombardi, Hull, Sanchez, Cruz, Stewart
Last action
2026-04-07
Official status
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - REGULATORY POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION (Provides that any rate increase with respect to electric distribution companies would be no greater than the increase in the Consumer Price Index or 5.5%, whichever is greater, unless there is approval of a higher rate by the general assembly)

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - REGULATORY POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION (Provides that any rate increase with respect to electric distribution companies would be no greater than the increase in the Consumer Price Index or 5.5%, whichever is greater, unless there is approval of a higher rate by the general assembly)

What This Bill Does

  • AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - REGULATORY POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION (Provides that any rate increase with respect to electric distribution companies would be no greater than the increase in the Consumer Price Index or 5.5%, whichever is greater, unless there is approval of a higher rate by the general assembly)

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-07 Committee

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  2. 2026-04-03 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/07/2026)

  3. 2026-01-15 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Introduced, referred to House Corporations

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - REGULATORY POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION (Provides that any rate increase with respect to electric distribution companies would be no greater than the increase in the Consumer Price Index or 5.5%, whichever is greater, unless there is approval of a higher rate by the general assembly)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H7112

2026 -- H 7112
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LC003762
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - REGULATORY POWERS OF
ADMINISTRATION

Introduced By:
Representatives J. Lombardi, Hull, Sanchez, Cruz, and Stewart

Date Introduced:
January 15, 2026

Referred To:
House Corporations
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Chapter 39-3 of the General Laws entitled "Regulatory Powers of
2
Administration" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
3

39-3-45. Electric rates tied to the consumer price index.
4

(a) Notwithstanding any provisions of the general laws to the contrary, any increase in rates
5
proposed to be charged by an electric distribution company as defined in chapter 1 of this title, shall
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be no greater than five and one-half percent (5.5%) or the percentage increase in the Consumer
7
Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) as published by the United States Department of
8
Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics determined as of September 30 of the prior calendar year,
9
whichever is greater, unless the increase shall have been previously approved by affirmative action
10
of the general assembly.
11

(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any electric distribution company
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having fewer than seven thousand five hundred (7,500) electricity customer accounts.
13
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC003762
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - REGULATORY POWERS OF
ADMINISTRATION
***
1
This act would provide that any rate increase with respect to electric distribution companies
2
would be no greater than the increase in the Consumer Price Index or five and one-half percent
3
(5.5%), whichever is greater, unless there is approval of a higher rate by the general assembly.
4
This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC003762
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