2017 -- S 0553

========

LC001359

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

     Introduced By: Senator Marc A. Cote

     Date Introduced: March 15, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     (DPUC)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 39-1-27.8 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-1 entitled "Public

Utilities Commission" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     39-1-27.8. Supply procurement portfolio.

     Each electric distribution company shall submit a proposed supply procurement plan or

plans to the commission not later than March 1, 2009, and each March 1, thereafter through

March 1, 2018 2028. The supply procurement plan or plans shall be consistent with the purposes

of least-cost procurement and shall, as appropriate, take into account plans and orders with regard

to system reliability and energy efficiency and conservation procurement. The supply

procurement plan or plans will include the acquisition procedure, the pricing options being

sought, and a proposed term of service for which standard offer service will be acquired. The

term of service may be of various, staggered term lengths and acquisitions may occur from time

to time and for more than one supplier for segments of standard offer load over different terms, if

appropriate. There also may be separate procurement plans for residential and non-residential

classes or separate plans among non-residential classes. All the components of the procurement

plans, shall be subject to commission review and approval. Once a procurement plan is approved

by the commission, the electric distribution company shall be authorized to acquire standard offer

service supply consistent with the approved procurement plan and recover its costs incurred from

providing standard offer service pursuant to the approved procurement plan. The commission

may periodically review the procurement plan to determine whether it should be prospectively

modified due to changed market conditions. The commission shall have the authority and

discretion to establish eligibility criteria by rate class, and approve special tariff conditions and

rates proposed by the electric distribution company that the commission finds are in the public

interest, including without limitation: (1) short and long term optional service at different rates;

(2) term commitments or notice provisions before individual customers leave standard offer

service; (3) standard offer service rates for residential or any other special class of customers that

are different than the rates for other standard offer customers; (4) time of use commodity pricing

for specified classes of customers, except residential customers; provided, however, that the

commission may establish pilot programs for time of use commodity pricing for residential

customers; and/or (5) standard offer service rates that are designed to encourage any class of

customers to purchase supply directly from the market.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC001359

========

LC001359 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

***

     This act would extend to March 1, 2028, the electric distribution company requirement to

file their supply procurement plan with the public utility commission and removes the restrictions

on time of use rates for residential customers.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC001359

========

LC001359 - Page 3 of 3