2016 -- S 2654

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LC003090

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - COMMERCIAL BILLING

     Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Conley, Metts, Lombardo, and Jabour

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 39-2 of the General Laws entitled "Duties of Utilities and Carriers"

is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     39-2-1.5. Commercial security deposits limited. – (a) No commercial customer who

has continuously received utility services for more than one year shall be required to maintain a

security deposit account to insure payment of their utility bills. Any security deposit funds held

for those commercial customers that can no longer be required to maintain them, shall be

immediately returned to them.

     (b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any electric distribution company

having fewer than seven thousand five hundred (7,500) electricity customer accounts.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC003090

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - COMMERCIAL BILLING

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     This act prohibits electric distribution companies from requiring security deposit accounts

from commercial customers who have maintained such accounts for more than one year.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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