AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS (Establishes statewide standards governing electric meter reading and billing practices.)

S2641

2026 -- S 2641
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LC005292
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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 -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND
CARRIERS

Introduced By:
Senator Samuel D. Zurier

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Commerce
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 39-2 of the General Laws entitled "Duties of Utilities and Carriers"
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is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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39-2-1.5. Electric utility billing and metering standards.

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(a) The division of public utilities and carriers shall promulgate rules and regulations
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establishing minimum statewide standards governing electric utility meter reading and billing
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practices, which shall include, at a minimum, the following:
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(1) Regular meter reading. All electric service meters shall be read at regular intervals and,
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to the extent practicable, on approximately the same calendar day of each meter reading period.
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(2) Billing transparency. Bills shall be rendered at regular intervals and shall clearly state:
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(i) The date of the current meter reading; and
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(ii) The amount or quantity of electric service provided during the billing period.
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(3) Customer billing records. Each electric utility shall maintain accurate accounts of all
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charges billed to each customer and shall retain records sufficient to demonstrate how each bill
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rendered was calculated.
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(4) Limit on estimated billing. No electric utility shall render estimated bills for more than
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six (6) consecutive billing periods on any residential, commercial, or industrial account, except
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where access to the meter is unavailable due to customer action or safety concerns, as determined
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by the division pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a)(5) of this section.

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(5) Once the electric utility has used estimated bills for a six (6) month period, the company
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shall act to correct the problem within two (2) months. Absent a waiver the electric utility shall not
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be allowed to recover billing beyond two (2) months after the use of estimated bills for a six (6)
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month period. However, the division shall permit the electric utility to seek a waiver from the
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division with respect to the foregoing billing prohibition. The waiver request shall include details
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of the electric utility’s efforts and experienced difficulties in accessing the customer’s property in
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order to obtain an actual reading. The waiver shall be filed with the division prior to the expiration
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of the two (2) month billing deadline.
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(6) Billing issuance standards. The division shall establish reasonable standards governing
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the relationship between the billing date and the date of issuance or mailing of a bill, including
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allowances for electronic billing and circumstances beyond the control of the utility. In
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promulgating regulations pursuant to this section, the division shall consider:
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(i) Existing utility tariffs approved by the public utilities commission; and
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(ii) The deployment of advanced metering or automated meter reading technology.
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(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impair the authority of the public utilities
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commission to approve tariffs or rates, provided such tariffs and rates are consistent with the
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standards established pursuant to this section.
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(c) The provisions of this section shall, unless extended by the general assembly, sunset
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upon the adoption of rules and regulations promulgated by the division that satisfy the conditions
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of this section, or on January 30, 2028, whichever shall occur first.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC005292
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND
CARRIERS
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This act would establish statewide standards governing electric meter reading and billing
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practices.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005292
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