2023 -- S 0769 | |
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LC002153 | |
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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 | |
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Introduced By: Senators Euer, DiMario, Zurier, Lawson, Miller, Cano, Sosnowski, | |
Date Introduced: March 23, 2023 | |
Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Title 39 of the General Laws entitled "PUBLIC UTILITIES AND |
2 | CARRIERS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: |
3 | CHAPTER 2.3 |
4 | NATURAL GAS STUDY |
5 | 39-2.3-1. Planning for natural gas connections. |
6 | (a) Prior to completing any new connections to the gas distribution system, the gas |
7 | distribution company shall complete a study as described in § 39-2.3-2. |
8 | (b) The public utilities commission ("commission") shall require the gas distribution |
9 | company to file with the commission an application for new connections to the gas distribution |
10 | system prior to any construction or cost recovery to the gas distribution company for any costs |
11 | associated with a new connection. |
12 | (c) The application for a new connection shall not be considered complete until it includes |
13 | a gas connection study as described in § 39-2.3-2. |
14 | 39-2.3-2. Gas connection study. |
15 | (a) The gas connection study shall include, at a minimum, the following elements: |
16 | (1) Current capacity of the distribution line to which there is a proposed new connection. |
17 | (2) Expected capacity following the proposed connection. |
18 | (3) Identification of any known or expected system constraints on the distribution line to |
19 | which there is a proposed new connection. |
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1 | (4) Identification of any new infrastructure that will be necessary to facilitate the new |
2 | connection. |
3 | (5) A statement as to the environmental impact of the new connection, including, but not |
4 | limited to, expected new greenhouse gas emissions, criteria air pollutant releases, and other |
5 | potential environmental impacts. |
6 | (6) Expected cost to all ratepayers on an annualized basis for the new connection. |
7 | (7) Financial impact to the company and ratepayers if the value of the new gas connection |
8 | will be zero dollars in 2050. |
9 | (8) Expected impact of the increased demand for gas due from the new connection on the |
10 | regional system that is regularly constrained in the winter. |
11 | (b) The public utilities commission shall not approve any new connections to the gas |
12 | distribution system, or cost recovery for costs associated with a new connection to the gas |
13 | distribution system, until the study described in subsection (a) of this section is complete and filed |
14 | with the commission. |
15 | 39-2.3-3. Adoption of rules. |
16 | The public utilities commission shall have the authority to adopt, amend, and implement |
17 | rules as may be necessary and desirable to effectuate the purposes of this chapter. |
18 | 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 | |
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1 | This act would create a natural gas study prior to completing any new connections to the |
2 | gas distribution system, additionally, this act would delineate the elements required for the natural |
3 | gas test. |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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