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| 5 | 5 | | 2023 -- H 6409 |
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| 6 | 6 | | ======== |
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| 7 | 7 | | LC002991 |
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| 8 | 8 | | ======== |
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| 9 | 9 | | S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND |
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| 10 | 10 | | IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 11 | 11 | | JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023 |
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| 12 | 12 | | ____________ |
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| 13 | 13 | | |
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| 14 | 14 | | A N A C T |
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| 15 | 15 | | RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWERS OF |
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| 16 | 16 | | ADMINISTRATION |
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| 17 | 17 | | Introduced By: Representatives Serpa, Phillips, Lima, P. Morgan, and Cardillo |
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| 18 | 18 | | Date Introduced: May 17, 2023 |
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| 19 | 19 | | Referred To: House Corporations |
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| 20 | 20 | | |
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| 21 | 21 | | |
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| 22 | 22 | | It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
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| 23 | 23 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 39-3 of the General Laws entitled "Regulatory Powers of 1 |
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| 24 | 24 | | Administration" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 2 |
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| 25 | 25 | | 39-3-37.4. Electric and gas meter reading required quarterly. 3 |
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| 26 | 26 | | (a) Every electric and natural gas distribution public utility shall read, record and update 4 |
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| 27 | 27 | | utility billing on quarterly scheduled intervals. Bills shall be forwarded promptly. 5 |
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| 28 | 28 | | (b) A utility company which estimates bills shall file with the PUC a current, simple, clear 6 |
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| 29 | 29 | | and concise statement of their formula used in preparing estimated bills. 7 |
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| 30 | 30 | | (1) Estimated bills for ratepayers shall consist of charges for utility services calculated in 8 |
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| 31 | 31 | | accordance with the formula approved by the PUC. 9 |
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| 32 | 32 | | (2) Estimated bills may be submitted to ratepayers for months when the quarterly reading 10 |
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| 33 | 33 | | is not scheduled or conducted. 11 |
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| 34 | 34 | | (c) In the event the utility fails to read the meter on a quarterly basis, they shall not demand, 12 |
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| 35 | 35 | | collect or require payment of any balance in excess of the amount required by the prior estimated 13 |
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| 36 | 36 | | monthly bills. Any amount otherwise due for use in excess of the estimated monthly bill shall be 14 |
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| 37 | 37 | | forfeited for any period in which electric or natural gas distribution utility failed to read the 15 |
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| 38 | 38 | | ratepayer's meter. 16 |
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| 39 | 39 | | |
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| 40 | 40 | | |
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| 41 | 41 | | LC002991 - Page 2 of 3 |
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| 42 | 42 | | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 1 |
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| 43 | 43 | | ======== |
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| 44 | 44 | | LC002991 |
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| 45 | 45 | | ======== |
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| 46 | 46 | | |
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| 47 | 47 | | |
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| 48 | 48 | | LC002991 - Page 3 of 3 |
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| 49 | 49 | | EXPLANATION |
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| 50 | 50 | | BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL |
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| 51 | 51 | | OF |
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| 52 | 52 | | A N A C T |
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| 53 | 53 | | RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWERS OF |
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| 54 | 54 | | ADMINISTRATION |
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| 55 | 55 | | *** |
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| 56 | 56 | | This act would require a utility company to read the meters of all ratepayers on a quarterly 1 |
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| 57 | 57 | | basis. The utility is required to provide a formula to the PUC in order to send estimated bills. 2 |
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| 58 | 58 | | This act would take effect upon passage. 3 |
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| 59 | 59 | | ======== |
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| 60 | 60 | | LC002991 |
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| 61 | 61 | | ======== |
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