2016 -- S 3090

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LC006190

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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 -- NONREGULATED POWER

PRODUCER CONSUMER BILL OF RIGHTS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Lombardo, Walaska, Picard, Cote, and Conley

     Date Introduced: June 16, 2016

     Referred To: Placed on Senate Calendar

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

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CHAPTER 26.7

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NONREGULATED POWER PRODUCER CONSUMER BILL OF RIGHTS

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     39-26.7-1. Short title. – This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the

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"nonregulated power producer consumer bill of rights."

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     39-26.7-2. Purpose. – The purpose of this act is to assist consumers in making an

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informed choice of a nonregulated power producer.

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     39-26.7-3. Definitions. – When used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the

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following meanings:

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     (1) "Commission" means the Rhode Island public utilities commission.

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     (2) "Division" means the division of public utilities and carriers.

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     (3) "Nonregulated power producer" shall have the same meaning as that which is

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contained in §39-1-2.

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     39-26.7-4. Consumer information requirements. – (a) On or before September 1, 2016,

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the division shall initiate a docket to redesign the standard billing format for residential customers

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to better enable such residential customers to compare pricing policies and charges of

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nonregulated power producers to the standard offer service rate. The division shall issue a final

 

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decision or rules in such docket not later than six (6) months after its initiation.

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     (b) In addition to all information required by §§39-3-37.2 and 39-3-37.3, the rules shall

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provide for the bill to include a standard offer service price to compare with the date of the next

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expected standard offer rate change and the date by which a customer's nonregulated power

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producer must initiate the transfer of service in order for the transfer to be complete by the next

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meter read date. If the standard offer service rate is ever a variable or time-of-use rate, the

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division shall prescribe the manner in which the price to compare will be represented.

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     (c) On or before September 1, 2021, and every five (5) years thereafter, the division shall

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reopen such docket to ensure the standard billing format continues to meet the requirements of

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this section.

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     (d) The division shall facilitate the creation of an Internet website which shall provide

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information necessary for a consumer to obtain service and compare pricing policies and charges

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among nonregulated power producers. This website may be maintained by a third party chosen

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through a competitive solicitation or through the Rhode Island government website, also known

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as "ri.gov" or its successor, and the cost of such website shall be funded through an assessment on

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any obligated entity, as such term is defined in §39-26-2, but excluding electric distribution

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companies, in a manner governed by division regulation.

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     (e) On or before July 1, 2019, and every two (2) years thereafter, the division shall review

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the Internet website and make any improvements to ensure such Internet website remains a useful

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tool for customers to compare pricing policies and charges among nonregulated power producers.

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     (f) The nonregulated power producer shall make available to the division and the

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provider of the Internet website facilitated by the division information required by the division on

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a schedule to be determined by the division.

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     39-26.7-5. Certain customer rights. – (a) An electric distribution company shall transfer

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a residential customer to the standard offer service rate not later than the next billing cycle after

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receipt of a request from a residential customer eligible for standard offer service.

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     (b) The electric distribution company shall not be liable for any contract termination fees

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that may be assessed by the nonregulated power producer.

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     (c) An electric distribution company shall transfer a residential customer to the electric

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generation service rate of a nonregulated power producer not later than the next billing cycle after

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the electric distribution company receives from the nonregulated power producer a successful

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enrollment of such residential customer unless the notification is not received by the electric

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distribution company in accordance with its commission-approved terms and conditions on file

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with the division and commission.

 

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     (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general laws, nothing shall prohibit a

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residential customer who moves from one dwelling to another dwelling within the state from

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immediately receiving electric generation service from a nonregulated power producer, provided

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such customer was receiving such service from a nonregulated power producer immediately prior

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to such move.

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     (e) The electric distribution company shall include in its terms and conditions, subject to

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review and approval by the commission, conditions for release of customer information to a

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nonregulated power producer.

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     (f) Customers shall be entitled to any available individual information about their loads or

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usage at no cost.

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     (g) On or before January 1, 2017, the division shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to

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develop a standard summary form of the material terms and conditions of the contract for electric

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generation services signed by a residential customer. Such form shall include, but not be limited

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to, the following:

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     (1) A description of the rate the customer will be paying;

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     (2) Whether such rate is a fixed or variable rate;

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     (3) The term and expiration date of such rate;

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     (4) Whether the contract will automatically renew;

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     (5) A notice describing the customer's right to cancel the service, including the right to

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schedule the cancellation of service on a date certain at any time during the contract period, as

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provided in this section;

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     (6) Information on air emissions and resource mix of generation facilities operated by and

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under long-term contract to the nonregulated power producer;

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     (7) The trade name of the nonregulated power producer;

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     (8) The toll-free telephone number for customer service of the nonregulated power

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producer;

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     (9) The Internet website of the nonregulated power producer;

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     (10) The toll-free telephone number for customer complaints of the division; and

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     (11) Any other information required by the division. Upon the division's filing of

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regulations pursuant to this section, the commission shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to

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repeal any rules which overlap with the regulations filed by the division.

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     (h) On and after January 1, 2017, each nonregulated power producer shall, prior to

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initiation of electric generation services, provide the potential residential customer with a

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completed summary form developed pursuant to this section. Each nonregulated power producer

 

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shall, prior to the initiation of electric generation services, provide the potential commercial or

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industrial customer with a written notice describing the rates, information that complies with §39-

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26-9 and the commission's rules governing energy source disclosure which may be amended from

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time to time, terms and conditions of the service, and a notice describing the customer's right to

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cancel the service, as provided in this section.

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     (i) No nonregulated power producer shall provide electric generation services unless the

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customer has signed a service contract or consents to such services by one of the following:

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     (1) An independent third-party telephone verification;

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     (2) Receipt of a written confirmation received in the United States mail from the

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customer after the customer has received an information package confirming any telephone

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agreement;

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     (3) The customer signs a contract that conforms with the provisions of this section; or

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     (4) The customer's consent is obtained through electronic means, including, but not

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limited to, a computer transaction.

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     (j) Each nonregulated power producer shall provide each customer with a written

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contract, which contract may be provided in an electronic format, that conforms with the

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provisions of this section and maintain records of such signed service contract or consent to

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service for a period of not less than two (2) years from the date of expiration of such contract,

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which records shall be provided to the division or the customer upon request.

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     (k) Each contract for electric generation services shall contain:

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     (1) All material terms of the agreement;

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     (2) A clear and conspicuous statement explaining the rates that such customer will be

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paying, including the circumstances under which the rates may change;

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     (3) A statement that provides specific directions to the customer as to how to compare the

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price terms in the contract to the customer's existing electric generation service charge on the

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electric bill and how long those rates are guaranteed;

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     (4) Such contract shall also include a clear and conspicuous statement providing the

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customer's right to cancel such contract not later than three (3) days after signature or receipt in

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accordance with the provisions of this subsection, describing under what circumstances, if any,

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the supplier may terminate the contract and describing any penalty for early termination of such

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contract;

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     (5) The method by which a customer may cancel service through the nonregulated power

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producer, including a method by which a customer without Internet access may cancel service;

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and

 

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     (6) Any other information required by the division.

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     (l) Between thirty (30) and sixty (60) days, inclusive, prior to the expiration of a fixed

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price term for a residential customer, a nonregulated power producer shall provide a written

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notice to such customer of any change to the customer's electric generation price. Such residential

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customer shall select the method of written notice at the time the contract is signed or verified

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through third-party verification as described in this section in a manner approved by the division.

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Such customer shall have the option to change the method of notification at any time during the

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contract.

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     (m) No nonregulated power producer shall charge a residential customer month-to-month

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variable rates for electric generation services following the expiration of a contract entered into

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after the effective date of this section without providing written notification to such residential

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customer forty-five (45) days prior to the commencement of such month-to-month variable rates.

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Such notice shall conform to any rules that may be promulgated by the division. Such customer

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shall have the option to change the method of notification at any time during the contract.

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     (n) No nonregulated power producer shall charge an electric generation service rate to a

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residential customer that is twenty-five percent (25%) more than the original contract price, or the

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last rate notification provided by the nonregulated power producer, without disclosing the rate

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change described in this section fifteen (15) days before it takes effect. Such disclosure shall be in

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writing and shall conform to any rules that may be promulgated by the division.

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     (o) No third-party agent may sell electric generation services on behalf of a nonregulated

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power producer unless the third-party agent is an employee or independent contractor of such

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nonregulated power producer, and the third-party agent has received appropriate training directly

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from such nonregulated power producer.

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     (p) All sales and solicitations of electric generation services by a nonregulated power

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producer, aggregator or agent of a nonregulated power producer or aggregator to a customer

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conducted and consummated entirely by United States mail, door-to-door sale, telephone or other

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electronic means, during a scheduled appointment at the premises of a customer or at a fair, trade

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or business show, convention or exposition in addition to complying with the provisions of this

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section shall comply with all state and local laws and regulations.

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     (q) Any representative of a nonregulated power producer, aggregator or agent of a

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nonregulated power producer or aggregator shall prominently display or wear a photo

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identification badge stating the name of such person's employer or the nonregulated power

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producer the person represents and shall not wear apparel, carry equipment or distribute materials

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that includes the logo or emblem of an electric distribution company or contains any language

 

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suggesting a relationship that does not exist with an electric distribution company, government

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agency or other supplier.

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     (r) No nonregulated power producer, aggregator or agent of a nonregulated power

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producer or aggregator shall advertise or disclose the price of electricity to mislead a reasonable

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person into believing that the electric generation services portion of the bill will be the total bill

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amount for the delivery of electricity to the customer's location, or make any statement, oral or

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written, suggesting a prospective customer is required to choose a supplier. When advertising or

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disclosing the price for electricity, the nonregulated power producer, aggregator or agent of a

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nonregulated power producer shall on and after January 1, 2017, indicate, using at least a ten (10)

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point font size, in a conspicuous part of any advertisement or disclosure that includes an

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advertised price, the expiration of such advertised price, and any fixed or recurring charge,

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including, but not limited to, any minimum monthly charge.

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     39-26.7-6. Nonregulated power producer obligations. – (a) No contract for electric

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generation services by a nonregulated power producer shall require a residential customer to pay

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any fee for termination or early cancellation of a contract in excess of fifty dollars ($50.00), or

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twice the estimated bill for energy services for an average month, whichever is less, provided that

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when a nonregulated power producer offers a contract, it provides the residential customer an

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estimate of such customer's average monthly bill; and provided further, it shall not be considered

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a termination or early cancellation of a contract if a residential customer moves from one

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dwelling within the state and remains with the same nonregulated power producer. If a residential

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customer does not have a contract for electric generation services with a nonregulated power

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producer and is receiving a month-to-month variable rate from such supplier, there shall be no fee

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for termination or early cancellation.

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     (b) Each nonregulated power producer shall file annually with the division a list of any

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aggregator or agent working on behalf of such supplier.

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     (c) Each nonregulated power producer shall develop and implement standards and

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qualifications for employees and third-party agents who are engaged in the sale or solicitation of

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electric generation services by such supplier.

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     (d) Each nonregulated power producer, aggregator or agent of a nonregulated power

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producer or aggregator shall comply with the provisions of the telemarketing regulations adopted

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pursuant to 15 U.S.C. §6102.

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     (e) Any violation or failure to comply with any provision of this chapter or rules

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promulgated by the division shall be subject to civil penalties by the division including, a penalty

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of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), and in

 

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the case of a continuing violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, every day's continuance

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shall be deemed to be a separate and distinct offense, an order of refund, and/or the suspension or

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revocation of a nonregulated power producer's certificate, or a prohibition on accepting new

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customers following a hearing.

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     (f) On or before July 1, 2017, the division shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to

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develop and implement, or cause to be implemented, standards relating to abusive switching

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practices, solicitations and renewals by nonregulated power producers, the hiring and training of

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sales representatives, door-to-door sales and telemarketing practices by nonregulated power

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producers, in accordance with the goal of ensuring customers have sufficient information to make

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an informed decision. The division shall issue final rules on such docket not later than six (6)

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months after its initiation.

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     (g) The division may initiate a docket to review the feasibility, costs and benefits of

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placing on standard offer service all customers of all nonregulated power producers who are

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hardship cases.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC006190

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- NONREGULATED POWER

PRODUCER CONSUMER BILL OF RIGHTS

***

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     This act would impose a series of regulatory requirements upon the electrical generation

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and distribution industry for the protection of consumers. This act includes a variety of consumer

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information which would have to be given to consumers. The act would also set forth procedures

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for sale and solicitation of electric generation services by a nonregulated power producer.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC006190

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