Title 45
Towns and Cities

Chapter 39.2
Clear River Electric and Water District [Effective January 1, 2025.]

§ 45-39.2-2. Definitions. [Effective January 1, 2025.]

Terms used in this chapter shall be construed as follows, unless another meaning is expressed or is clearly apparent from the language or context:

(1) “Electric and water district” means the Clear River electric and water district, a quasi-municipal corporation, district, and political subdivision of the state established and empowered by this chapter to:

(i) Succeed to and fulfill the electric and water utility functions, powers, rights, property, and obligations heretofore held and fulfilled by the Pascoag utility district and Harrisville fire district water department as defined above and not to include the fire protection, suppression, and prevention functions or the emergency medical, rescue, and ambulance services of the Harrisville fire district;

(ii) Exercise certain additional powers as a water supplier, an electric distribution company, and as a nonregulated power producer; and

(iii) Provide additional utility services not inconsistent with the duties, powers, and obligations of the electric and water district as defined in this section.

(2) “Fire district” means the Harrisville fire district created by the act passed as chapter 637 of the Public Laws of 1910, entitled “An Act to Incorporate the Harrisville fire district” as thereafter amended and supplemented from time to time.

(3) “Fire protection assets” means that real property, facilities, equipment, statutory rights and privileges, and other tangible or intangible property of any kind whatever used in, or useful to, the conduct of the fire protection, suppression, and prevention operations and/or the emergency medical, rescue, and ambulance services conducted prior to, on and after January 1, 2025, by the fire district.

(4) “Pascoag utility district” means that quasi-municipal corporation, district, and political subdivision of the state established by and through P.L. 2001, ch. 12, § 1, effective April 4, 2001, to have and succeed to the utility powers and functions held and exercised prior to that date by the Pascoag Fire District, as established under the act passed at the May session 1887, entitled “An Act to Incorporate the Pascoag Fire District” as thereafter amended and supplemented from time to time, and further having such additional powers, rights, and functions as set forth in chapter 58 of this title.

(5) “Qualified voter” means any person whose name appears on an active account with the Clear River electric and water district and who resides in the villages served by the Clear River electric and water district or owns property in the villages served by the Clear River electric and water district.

(6) “Utility assets” means that real property, personal property, rights in any real and personal property, facilities, equipment, contract rights, statutory rights and privileges, franchises, and other tangible or intangible property of any kind whatever used in, or useful to, the conduct of the electric and water utility operations conducted prior to January 1, 2025, by the Pascoag utility district and the Harrisville fire district, and on and after January 1, 2025, by the Clear River electric and water district.

(7) “Utility bond obligations” means the obligations represented by and inherent in any revenue or general obligation bond issued by the Pascoag utility district and Harrisville fire district prior to January 1, 2025, for the purpose of financing any aspect of its electric or water utility system or operations, which obligations remain outstanding in any part as of January 1, 2025.

(8) “Utility service area” means that geographic area located within the boundaries of the Pascoag fire district, as defined above and the Harrisville fire district as defined above and the geographic area located within the boundaries of any other fire district that may be served by the Clear River electric and water district from time to time.