AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION (Requires a natural gas and electric utility company to read the meters of all ratepayers on a quarterly basis. The utility would be required to provide a formula, used to create estimated bills, to the PUC in order to send estimated bills.)

H7412

2026 -- H 7412
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LC004661
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWERS OF
ADMINISTRATION

Introduced By:
Representative Rebecca M. Kislak

Date Introduced:
January 30, 2026

Referred To:
House Corporations
(by request)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 39-3 of the General Laws entitled "Regulatory Powers of
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Administration" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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39-3-37.4. Electric and gas meter reading required quarterly.

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(a) Every electric and natural gas distribution public utility shall read, record and update
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utility billing on quarterly scheduled intervals. Bills shall be forwarded promptly.
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(b) A utility company which estimates bills shall file with the PUC a current, simple, clear
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and concise statement of their formula used in preparing estimated bills.
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(1) Estimated bills for ratepayers shall consist of charges for utility services calculated in
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accordance with the formula approved by the PUC.
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(2) Estimated bills may be submitted to ratepayers for months when the quarterly reading
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is not scheduled or conducted.
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(c) In the event the utility fails to read the meter on a quarterly basis, they shall not demand,
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collect or require payment of any balance in excess of the amount required by the prior estimated
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monthly bills. Any amount otherwise due for use in excess of the estimated monthly bill shall be
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forfeited for any period in which the electric or natural gas distribution utility failed to read the
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ratepayer's meter.

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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC004661
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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
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This act would require a natural gas and electric utility company to read the meters of all
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ratepayers on a quarterly basis. The utility would be required to provide a formula, used to create
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estimated bills, to the PUC in order to send estimated bills.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004661
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LC004661 - Page 3 of 3