Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island Senate Bill S0769 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2023 -- S 0769
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7	7	LC002153
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9	9	S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS
16	16	Introduced By: Senators Euer, DiMario, Zurier, Lawson, Miller, Cano, Sosnowski,
17	17	Murray, and Lauria
18	18	Date Introduced: March 23, 2023
19	19	Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture
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22	22	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
23	23	SECTION 1. Title 39 of the General Laws entitled "PUBLIC UTILITIES AND 1
24	24	CARRIERS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 2
25	25	CHAPTER 2.3 3
26	26	NATURAL GAS STUDY 4
27	27	39-2.3-1. Planning for natural gas connections. 5
28	28	(a) Prior to completing any new connections to the gas distribution system, the gas 6
29	29	distribution company shall complete a study as described in § 39-2.3-2. 7
30	30	(b) The public utilities commission ("commission") shall require the gas distribution 8
31	31	company to file with the commission an application for new connections to the gas distribution 9
32	32	system prior to any construction or cost recovery to the gas distribution company for any costs 10
33	33	associated with a new connection. 11
34	34	(c) The application for a new connection shall not be considered complete until it includes 12
35	35	a gas connection study as described in § 39-2.3-2. 13
36	36	39-2.3-2. Gas connection study. 14
37	37	(a) The gas connection study shall include, at a minimum, the following elements: 15
38	38	(1) Current capacity of the distribution line to which there is a proposed new connection. 16
39	39	(2) Expected capacity following the proposed connection. 17
40	40	(3) Identification of any known or expected system constraints on the distribution line to 18
41	41	which there is a proposed new connection. 19
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45	45	(4) Identification of any new infrastructure that will be necessary to facilitate the new 1
46	46	connection. 2
47	47	(5) A statement as to the environmental impact of the new connection, including, but not 3
48	48	limited to, expected new greenhouse gas emissions, criteria air pollutant releases, and other 4
49	49	potential environmental impacts. 5
50	50	(6) Expected cost to all ratepayers on an annualized basis for the new connection. 6
51	51	(7) Financial impact to the company and ratepayers if the value of the new gas connection 7
52	52	will be zero dollars in 2050. 8
53	53	(8) Expected impact of the increased demand for gas due from the new connection on the 9
54	54	regional system that is regularly constrained in the winter. 10
55	55	(b) The public utilities commission shall not approve any new connections to the gas 11
56	56	distribution system, or cost recovery for costs associated with a new connection to the gas 12
57	57	distribution system, until the study described in subsection (a) of this section is complete and filed 13
58	58	with the commission. 14
59	59	39-2.3-3. Adoption of rules. 15
60	60	The public utilities commission shall have the authority to adopt, amend, and implement 16
61	61	rules as may be necessary and desirable to effectuate the purposes of this chapter. 17
62	62	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 18
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68	68	LC002153 - Page 3 of 3
69	69	EXPLANATION
70	70	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
71	71	OF
72	72	A N A C T
73	73	RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS
74	74	***
75	75	This act would create a natural gas study prior to completing any new connections to the 1
76	76	gas distribution system, additionally, this act would delineate the elements required for the natural 2
77	77	gas test. 3
78	78	This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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80	80	LC002153
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