S0039

	2015 -- S 0039
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	LC000253
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	STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015
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	A N A C T
	RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWERS OF
	ADMINISTRATION

	Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Jabour, Lombardi, Conley, and Satchell
	Date Introduced: January 13, 2015
	Referred To: Senate Commerce
	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1	SECTION 1. Chapter 39-3 of the General Laws entitled "Regulatory Powers of
2	Administration" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
3	39-3-45. Electric rates tied to the consumer price index. – (a) Notwithstanding any
4	provisions of the general laws to the contrary, any increase in rates proposed to be charged by an
5	electric distribution company as defined in chapter 1 of this title, shall be no greater than five and
6	one-half percent (5.5%) or the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban
7	Consumers (CPI-U) as published by the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor
8	Statistics determined as of September 30 of the prior calendar year, whichever is greater, unless
9	the increase shall have been previously approved by affirmative action of the general assembly.
10	(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any electric distribution company
11	having fewer than seven thousand five hundred (7,500) electricity customer accounts.
12	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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	LC000253
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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
	***
1	This act would provide that any rate increase with respect to electric distribution
2	companies would be no greater than the increase in the Consumer Price Index or five and one-
3	half percent (5.5%), whichever is greater, without prior approval of the general assembly.
4	This act would take effect upon passage.
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	LC000253
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