2016 -- H 7950

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LC005410

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- STREET LIGHTS ON STATE

ROADS

     Introduced By: Representatives Marshall, Ucci, Gallison, Winfield, and Marcello

     Date Introduced: March 16, 2016

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 39 of the General Laws entitled "PUBLIC UTILITIES AND

CARRIERS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 30.1

STREET LIGHTS ON STATE ROADS

     39-30.1-1. Definitions. -- When used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the

following meanings:

     (1) "Electric distribution company" means a company defined in §39-1-2, supplying

standard offer service, last resort service, or any successor service to end-use customers.

     (2) "Lighting equipment" means all equipment used to light streets in the municipality

located on state roads, the operation and maintenance of which is currently charged to the

municipality, including lighting ballasts, fixtures, and other equipment necessary for the

conversion of electric energy into street lighting service, but excluding the utility poles upon

which the lighting equipment is fixed. Lighting equipment shall include, but not be limited to,

decorative street and area lighting equipment and solid-state (LED) lighting technologies.

     39-30.1-2. Lighting equipment on state roads. -- The cost to operate all lighting

equipment located on state roads shall be the responsibility of the state and not the municipality

where the lighting equipment is located. The electric distribution company shall bill the state for

the cost of operating said lighting equipment.

     39-30.1-3. Statewide audit required. -- The department of transportation shall conduct

and audit of all lighting equipment located within every municipality on every state road. The

audit shall include a breakdown of all said lighting equipment by each state road in each

municipality. The department shall report its findings to the general assembly no later than

January 1, 2017.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- STREET LIGHTS ON STATE

ROADS

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     This act would provide that the cost to operate all lighting equipment located on state

roads would be the responsibility of the state and not the municipality where the lighting

equipment is located.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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