2023 -- H 5661 | |
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LC002102 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Cruz, Boylan, Shekarchi, Potter, McNamara, Tanzi, | |
Date Introduced: February 17, 2023 | |
Referred To: House Corporations | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 39-1 of the General Laws entitled "Public Utilities Commission" is |
2 | hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
3 | 39-1-63. Utility termination moratorium period. |
4 | (a) A public utility shall not terminate service to any property, which is being used as a |
5 | public warming center, drop-in center, shelter, or similar facility that is providing emergency |
6 | services to drop-in residents or unhoused individuals during a utility termination moratorium |
7 | period, which shall be from November 1 to April 15 of the following year. This section shall apply |
8 | regardless of whether the warming center, drop-in center, shelter, or similar facility that is providing |
9 | emergency services to drop-in residents or unhoused individuals is eligible for termination pursuant |
10 | to regulation 810-RICR-10-00-1 as promulgated and adopted by the Rhode Island public utilities |
11 | commission (the “commission”). |
12 | (b) The commission shall amend its rules and regulations governing the termination of |
13 | residential electric and gas service as set forth in 810-RICR-10-00-1, and any similar rule or |
14 | regulation of the commission, to incorporate the provisions of this section into its rules and |
15 | regulation(s). |
16 | (c) This section shall not nullify or reduce any extension of the suspension of service |
17 | terminations and collection actions during the COVID-19 emergency already authorized or which |
18 | may be authorized by the commission pursuant to "Docket No. 5022 - Suspension of Service |
19 | Terminations and Certain Collections Activities During the COVID-19 Emergency." |
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1 | (d) Any property which is being used as a public warming center, drop-in center, shelter, |
2 | or similar facility that is providing emergency services to drop-in residents or unhoused individuals |
3 | shall register with the electric distribution company and/or public utilities serving gas or water |
4 | service so that the public utility has a record of the account(s) exempt from service termination |
5 | during the upcoming November 1 to April 15 period. |
6 | 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 -- PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION | |
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1 | This act would provide that utility services would not be terminated for the period from |
2 | November 1 to April 15 to any property which is being used as a warming center, drop-in center, |
3 | shelter, or similar facility that is providing emergency services to drop-in residents or unhoused |
4 | individuals. |
5 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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