2025 -- S 0899
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LC000905
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWER S OF
ADMINISTRATION
Introduced By: Senators Lawson, Euer, Gallo, DiMario, Bissaillon, Felag, Burke, Britto,
Tikoian, and Murray
Date Introduced: March 27, 2025
Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 39-3-7.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-3 entitled "Regulatory 1
Powers of Administration" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
39-3-7.1. Prohibited practices. 3
The use of electrical “master-meters,” so-called, in apartment or tenement houses, mobile 4
home parks, or other similar residential complexes is permitted; containing more than ten (10) 5
apartments or dwelling units is hereby prohibited; provided, however, that whenever a master-6
meter customer provides electricity to users who are tenants of such a residential complex, the 7
master-meter customer shall not charge the user tenants a rate in excess of the rate that would apply 8
if such users received electricity directly from a public utility this section shall only apply to 9
apartment houses, construction of which is commenced after July 1, 1977. Each apartment or 10
dwelling unit shall have a measuring device or meter for the purpose of measuring the electricity 11
used only by that apartment. The commission shall promulgate all necessary rules and regulations 12
to carry out the purposes and provisions of this section; provided, however, that this section shall 13
not apply to the multifamily dwellings constructed for the exclusive use of persons who are elderly 14
and/or disabled through public financing, whenever the organization sponsoring the construction 15
shall elect to use a single meter for all, or designated portions, of the housing. 16
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 1
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWE RS OF
ADMINISTRATION
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This act would prohibit charging any rate in excess of the rate that would apply if a tenant 1
of any residential complex with electrical master-meters received electricity directly from a public 2
utility. This act would further amend the law in that its application would be for all residential 3
tenants, regardless of the size of the complex or the age or disability of its residents. 4
This act would take effect upon passage. 5
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