R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-1-2 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-1 / Section 39-1-2
§ 39-1-2. Definitions.
Status: in_force

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

(1) Administrator means the administrator of the division of public utilities and carriers.

(2) Airport and landing field mean and include all airports and landing fields other than those owned by the state.

(3) Chairperson means the chairperson of the public utilities commission.

(4) Charter carrier means and includes all carriers for hire or compensation within this state not included in the definition of common carrier.

(5) Commission means the public utilities commission.

(6) Commissioner means a member of the public utilities commission.

(7) Common carrier, except when used in chapters 12, 13, and 14 of this title, means and includes all carriers for hire or compensation, including railroads, street railways, express, freight and freight-line companies, dining-car companies, steam boat, motor boat, power boat, hydrofoil, and ferry companies and all other companies operating any agency or facility for public use in the conveyance over fixed routes, or between fixed termini within this state of persons or property by, or by a combination of, land, air, or water.

(8) Company means and includes a person, firm, partnership, corporation, quasi-municipal corporation, association, joint-stock association or company, and his, her, its, or their lessees, trustees, or receivers appointed by any court.

(9) Customer means a company taking service from an electric distribution company at a single point of delivery or meter location.

(10) Distribution facility means plant or equipment used for the distribution of electricity and that is not a transmission facility.

(11) Division means the division of public utilities and carriers.

(12) Electric distribution company means a company engaging in the distribution of electricity or owning, operating, or controlling distribution facilities and shall be a public utility pursuant to subsection (20) of this section.

(13) Electric transmission company means a company engaging in the transmission of electricity or owning, operating, or controlling transmission facilities. An electric transmission company shall not be subject to regulation as a public utility except as specifically provided in the general laws, but shall be regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and shall provide transmission service to all nonregulated power producers and customers, whether affiliated or not, on comparable, nondiscriminatory prices and terms. Electric transmission companies shall have the power of eminent domain exercisable following a petition to the commission pursuant to § 39-1-31.

(14) Liquefied natural gas means a fluid in the liquid state composed predominantly of methane and that may contain minor quantities of ethane, propane, nitrogen, or other components normally found in natural gas.

(15) Manufacturing customers means all customers that have on file with an electric distribution company a valid certificate of exemption from the Rhode Island sales tax indicating the customers status as a manufacturer pursuant to § 44-18-30.

(16) Motor carriers means any carrier regulated by the administrator pursuant to chapters 3, 11, 12, 13, and 14 of this title.

(17) Natural gas means the combustible, gaseous mixture of low-molecular-weight, paraffin hydrocarbons, generated below the surface of the earth, containing mostly methane and ethane with small amounts of propane, butane, and hydrocarbons, and sometimes nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and helium.

(18) Nonprofit housing development corporation means a nonprofit corporation that has been approved as a 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) corporation by the Internal Revenue Service, and is organized and operated primarily for the purpose of providing housing for low- and moderate-income persons.

(19) Nonregulated power producer means a company engaging in the business of producing, manufacturing, generating, buying, aggregating, marketing, or brokering electricity for sale at wholesale or for retail sale to the public; provided however, that companies that negotiate the purchase of electric generation services on behalf of customers and do not engage in the purchase and resale of electric generation services shall be excluded from this definition. A nonregulated power producer shall not be subject to regulation as a public utility except as specifically provided in the general laws.

(20) Public utility means and includes every company that is an electric distribution company and every company operating or doing business in intrastate commerce and in this state as a railroad, street railway, common carrier, gas, liquefied natural gas, water, telephone, telegraph, and pipeline company, and every company owning, leasing, maintaining, managing, or controlling any plant or equipment, or any part of any plant or equipment, within this state for manufacturing, producing, transmitting, distributing, delivering, or furnishing natural or manufactured gas, directly or indirectly, to or for the public, or any cars or equipment employed on, or in connection with, any railroad or street railway for public or general use within this state, or any pipes, mains, poles, wires, conduits, fixtures, through, over, across, under, or along any public highways, parkways, or streets, public lands, waters, or parks for the transmission, transportation, or distribution of gas for sale to the public for light, heat, cooling, or power for providing audio or visual telephonic or telegraphic communication service within this state, or any pond, lake, reservoir, stream, well, or distributing plant or system employed for the distribution of water to the consuming public within this state, including the water supply board of the city of Providence; provided, that, except as provided in § 39-16-9 and in P.L. 1933, ch. 2072, as amended, this definition shall not be construed to apply to any public waterworks or water service owned and furnished by any city, town, water district, fire district, or any other municipal or quasi-municipal corporation, excepting the water supply board of the city of Providence, unless any city, town, water district, fire district, municipal or quasi-municipal corporation obtains water from a source owned or leased by the water resources board, either directly or indirectly, or obtains a loan from the board pursuant to the provisions of chapter 15.1 of title 46, or sells water, on a wholesale or retail basis, inside and outside the territorial limits of the city or town, water district, fire district, municipal or quasi-municipal corporation, except, however, that a public waterworks or water service owned and furnished by any city, town, water district, fire district, or any other municipal or quasi-municipal corporation that sells water, on a wholesale or retail basis, inside and outside its territorial limits, shall not be construed as a public utility if it has fewer than one-thousand five hundred (1,500) total customer-service connections and provided outside sales do not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total water service connections or volumetric sales and provided the price charged to outside customers, per unit of water, is not greater than the price charged to inside customers for the same unit of water, nor to the Rhode Island public transit authority, or to the production and/or distribution of steam, heat, or water by the Rhode Island port authority and economic development corporation in the town of North Kingstown; and the term public utility shall also mean and include the Narragansett Bay water quality management district commission; and provided that the ownership or operation of a facility by a company that dispenses alternative fuel or energy sources at retail for use as a motor vehicle fuel or energy source, and the dispensing of alternative fuel or energy sources at retail from such a facility, does not make the company a public utility within the meaning of this title solely because of that ownership, operation, or sale; and provided further that this exemption shall not apply to presently regulated public utilities that sell natural gas or are dispensers of other energy sources; and provided further, that the term public utility shall not include any company:

(i) Producing or distributing steam or heat from a fossil-fuel-fired cogeneration plant located at the university of Rhode Island South Kingstown, Rhode Island;

(ii) Producing and/or distributing thermal energy and/or electricity to a state-owned facility from a plant located on an adjacent site, regardless of whether steam lines cross a public highway; and

(iii) Providing wireless service.

(21) Purchasing cooperatives shall mean any association of electricity consumers that join for the purpose of negotiating the purchase of power from a nonregulated power producer, provided however, that purchasing cooperatives shall not be required to be legal entities and are prohibited from being engaged in the re-sale of electric power.

(22) Railroad means and includes every railroad other than a street railway, by whatsoever power, operated for public use in the conveyance in this state of persons or property for compensation, with all bridges, ferries, tunnels, switches, spurs, tracks, stations, wharves, and terminal facilities of every kind, used, operated, controlled, leased, or owned by or in connection with any railroad.

(23) Retail access means the use of transmission and distribution facilities owned by an electric transmission company or an electric distribution company to transport electricity sold by a nonregulated power producer to retail customers pursuant to § 39-1-27.3.

(24) Street railway means and includes every railway by whatsoever power operated or any extension or extensions, branch, or branches thereof, for public use in the conveyance in this state of persons or property for compensation, being mainly upon, along, above, or below any street, avenue, road, highway, bridge, or public place in any city or town, and including all switches, spurs, tracks, rights of trackage, subways, tunnels, stations, terminals, and terminal facilities of every kind, used, operated, controlled, or owned by or in connection with any street railway.

(25) Transmission facility means plant or equipment used for the transmission of electricity as determined by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission pursuant to federal law as of the date of the property transfers pursuant to § 39-1-27(c).

(26) Wireless service means communication services provided over spectrum licensed by or subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this section or any provision of the act entitled, An Act Relating to the Utility Restructuring Act of 1996 (hereinafter utility restructuring act), upon request by the affected electric utility, the commission may exempt from the utility restructuring act or any provision(s) thereof, an electric utility that meets the following requirements:

(1) The utility is not selling or distributing electricity outside of the service territory in effect for that utility on the date of passage of the utility restructuring act; and

(2) The number of kilowatt hours sold or distributed annually by the utility to the public is less than five percent (5%) of the total kilowatt hours consumed annually by the state. Provided, however, that nothing contained in this section shall prevent the commission from allowing competition in the generation of electricity in service territories of utilities exempted in whole or in part from the utility restructuring act pursuant to this section, as long as such allowance of competition is conditioned upon payment to the exempted electric utility of a nonbypassable transition charge calculated to recover the elements comparable in nature to the elements in § 39-1-27.4(b) and (c) taking into consideration any unique circumstances applicable to the exempted electric utility.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-6-3 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-6 / Section 39-6-3
§ 39-6-3. Action to abate unlicensed road.
Status: in_force

In addition to the remedy by indictment for the nuisance, the attorney general shall, for the purpose of abating any nuisance, file on the part of the state, in the superior court, a civil action or information against any person or corporation who or that shall build any railroad or portion of a railroad, and the court shall take jurisdiction of, hear, determine, decree, and proceed thereon as in cases of private nuisance.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-1-27.7.1 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-1 / Section 39-1-27.7.1
§ 39-1-27.7.1. Revenue decoupling.
Status: in_force

(a) The general assembly finds and declares that electricity and gas revenues shall be fully decoupled from sales pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and further finds and declares that any decoupling proposal submitted by an electric distribution company as defined in § 39-1-2(a)(12) or gas distribution company included as a public utility in § 39-1-2(a)(20) that has greater than one hundred thousand (100,000) customers, shall be for the following purposes:

(1) Increasing efficiency in the operations and management of the electric and gas distribution system;

(2) Achieving the goals established in the electric distribution companys plan for system reliability and energy efficiency and conservation procurement as required pursuant to § 39-1-27.7(d);

(3) Increasing investment in least-cost resources that will reduce long-term electricity demand;

(4) Reducing risks for both customers and the distribution company including, but not limited to, societal risks, weather risks, and economic risks;

(5) Increasing investment in end-use energy efficiency;

(6) Eliminating disincentives to support energy-efficiency programs;

(7) Facilitating and encouraging investment in utility infrastructure, safety, and reliability; and

(8) Considering the reduction of fixed, recurring customer charges and transition to increased unit charges that more accurately reflect the long-term costs of energy production and delivery.

(b) Each electric distribution company as defined by § 39-1-2(a)(12) and gas distribution company included as a public utility in § 39-1-2(a)(20) having greater than one hundred thousand (100,000) customers shall file proposals at the commission to implement the policy set forth in subsection (a) of this section. The commission shall approve these proposals, provided they contain the features and components set forth in subsection (c) of this section, and that they are consistent with the intent and objectives contained in subsection (a) of this section. Actions taken by the commission in the exercise of its ratemaking authority for electric and gas rate cases shall be within the norm of industry standards and recognize the need to maintain the financial health of the distribution company as a stand-alone entity in Rhode Island.

(c) The proposals shall contain the following features and components:

(1) A revenue decoupling reconciliation mechanism that reconciles annually the revenue requirement allowed in the companys base distribution-rate case to revenues actually received for the applicable twelve-month (12) period. Any revenues over-recovered or under-recovered shall be credited to, or recovered from, customers, as applicable; and

(2) An annual infrastructure, safety, and reliability spending plan for each fiscal year and an annual rate-reconciliation mechanism that includes a reconcilable allowance for the anticipated capital investments and other spending pursuant to the annual pre-approved budget as developed in accordance with subsection (d) of this section.

(d) Prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, gas and electric distribution companies shall consult with the division of public utilities and carriers regarding their infrastructure, safety, and reliability spending plan for the following fiscal year, addressing the following categories:

(1) Capital spending on utility infrastructure;

(2) For electric distribution companies, operation and maintenance expenses on vegetation management;

(3) For electric distribution companies, operation and maintenance expenses on system inspection, including expenses from expected resulting repairs; and

(4) Any other costs relating to maintaining safety and reliability that are mutually agreed upon by the division and the company.

The distribution company shall submit a plan to the division and the division shall cooperate in good faith to reach an agreement on a proposed plan for these categories of costs for the prospective fiscal year within sixty (60) days. To the extent that the company and the division mutually agree on a plan, such plan shall be filed with the commission for review and approval within ninety (90) days. If the company and the division cannot agree on a plan, the company shall file a proposed plan with the commission and the commission shall review and, if the investments and spending are found to be reasonably needed to maintain safe and reliable distribution service over the short and long term, approve the plan within ninety (90) days.

(e) The commission shall have the following duties and powers, in addition to its existing authorities established in this title:

(1) To maintain reasonable and adequate service-quality standards, after decoupling, that are in effect at the time of the proposal and were established pursuant to § 39-3-7.

(2) The commission may exclude the low-income rate class from the revenue decoupling reconciliation-rate mechanism for either electric or gas distribution. The commission also may exclude customers in the large commercial and industrial rate class from the gas-distribution mechanism.

(3) The commission may adopt performance incentives for the electric distribution company that provide a shared-savings mechanism whereby the company would receive a percentage of savings realized as a result of achieving the purposes of this section while the remaining savings are credited to customers.

(4) The commission shall review and approve, with any necessary amendments, performance-based, energy-savings targets developed and submitted by the Rhode Island energy efficiency and resources management council. The performance-based targets shall also be used as a consideration in any shared-savings mechanism established by the commission pursuant to subsection (e)(3) of this section.

(f) The Rhode Island energy efficiency and resources management council shall propose performance-based, energy-savings targets to the commission no later than September 1, 2010. The targets shall include, but not be limited to, specific energy kilowatt-hour savings overall and peak-demand savings for both summer and winter peak periods expressed in total megawatts as well as appropriate targets recommended in the opportunities report filed with the commission pursuant to § 39-1-27.7(d)(3). The council shall revise, as necessary, these targets on an annual basis prior to the reconciliation process established pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and submit its revisions to the commission for approval.

(g) Reporting. Every electric distribution company, as defined in subsection (a) of this section, shall report to the governor, general assembly, division of public utilities and carriers, and public utilities commission on or before September 1, 2012. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following elements:

(1) A comparison of revenues from traditional rate regulation and how the revenues have differed as part of an approved decoupling structure;

(2) A summary of how the company is achieving the performance-based targets that may have been adopted pursuant to subsection (e)(4) of this section;

(3) A summary of any shared savings the company may have received pursuant to the performance incentives authorized in subsection (e)(3) of this section;

(4) A summary of how the company is achieving the service-quality standards required in subsection (e)(1) of this section;

(5) An overview of how decoupling is impacting revenue stabilization goals that have resulted from decoupling; and

(6) A summary of any customer education programs provided.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-1-5 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-1 / Section 39-1-5
§ 39-1-5. Removal of commissioner from office.
Status: in_force

Commissioners may at any time be removed from office by the governor for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, but no commissioner shall be removed from office without an opportunity to be heard, publicly before the governor and after being given notice in writing of the charges against him or her. A copy of the charges and a transcript of the record of the hearing shall be filed with the secretary of state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-2-15.1 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-2 / Section 39-2-15.1
§ 39-2-15.1. Temporary removal of wires and supporting fixtures by nonprofit housing development corporation.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever, in order to move a building to be used as affordable housing for low- and moderate-income persons for a period of not less than ten (10) years, a nonprofit housing development corporation desires that the pipes, mains, poles, wires, conduits, or fixtures of a public utility be cut, disconnected, or removed, the public utility shall cut, disconnect, or remove the same at its own expense.

(b) A nonprofit housing development corporation that desires the cutting, disconnection, or removal of mains, poles, conduits, wires, or fixtures of a public utility shall give written notification thereof to the commission and the utility company. The written notification must contain the location of the site where the structure is presently located; the location of the final destination of the structure; the path of the proposed move, described in reference to the crossings of streets or highways; and the date of the required cutting, disconnection, or removal.

(c) Upon receipt of the written notification described in subsection (b), the commission shall promptly determine whether the applicant is a nonprofit housing development corporation within the meaning of this chapter, and shall also determine whether the structure to be moved will be maintained as affordable housing for a period of not less than ten (10) years. A resolution, issued by the board of directors of the nonprofit housing development corporation and recorded at the land records office of the locality to where the structure is to be moved, stating that the structure will be used as affordable housing for a period of not less than ten (10) years, shall be satisfactory evidence that the requirements of this section have been satisfied. If the commission determines that the applicant satisfies the requirements of this section, it shall give notice thereof to the public utilities and require the applicant to coordinate its building move with the path(s), date(s), and time(s) as determined by the public utilities; however, the date(s), and time(s) shall be no later than thirty (30) days from the date the public utilities have received notice of the commissions determination.

(d) If, at any time during the ten-year (10) period following the cutting, disconnection, or removal of the pipes, mains, poles, wires, conduits, or fixtures of a public utility, the nonprofit housing development corporation shall utilize the structure for any purpose other than affordable housing, the nonprofit housing development corporation shall reimburse the public utility for the cost of the cutting, disconnection, or removal of the same.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-12-23 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-12 / Section 39-12-23
§ 39-12-23. Transfer of interstate carrier permit.
Status: in_force

Any permit of registration may be assigned and transferred by the holder thereof, his or her assignee, receiver, trustee, or by the holders personal representative, or by the surviving partner or partners of the deceased partner to which the right under the permit shall pass at the death of the holder upon application to the administrator. The application shall be accompanied by a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00). The transferor shall establish before the administrator that the operating authority to engage in interstate commerce in transportation for compensation is to be or has been transferred with the approval of the Interstate Commerce Commission. The administrator may establish such reasonable rules and regulations as he or she may deem necessary pertaining to the transfer and assignment of permits of registration.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-4-2 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-4 / Section 39-4-2
§ 39-4-2. Order to repair or make changes in plant or equipment.
Status: in_force

Whenever the commission shall find upon a hearing and an investigation that the plant or equipment of any public utility is inadequate, insufficient, or unsuited to the public needs, or that repairs, improvements, or changes in the plant or equipment ought reasonably to be made, or that an addition to, alteration, or extension of the plant or equipment of any public utility ought reasonably to be made, the commission shall order that the repairs, improvements, changes, additions, alterations, or extensions to the plant or equipment be made within a reasonable time and in the manner specified.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-1-3 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-1 / Section 39-1-3
§ 39-1-3. Commission and division established  Functions of commission  Administrator.
Status: in_force

(a) To implement the legislative policy set forth in § 39-1-1 and to serve as the agencies of the state in effectuating the legislative purpose, there are hereby established a public utilities commission and a division of public utilities and carriers. The commission shall serve as a quasi-judicial tribunal with jurisdiction, powers, and duties to implement and enforce the standards of conduct under § 39-1-27.6 and to hold investigations and hearings involving the rates, tariffs, tolls, and charges, and the sufficiency and reasonableness of facilities and accommodations of railroad, gas, electric distribution, water, telephone, telegraph, and pipeline public utilities; the location of railroad depots and stations, and the control of grade crossings; the revocation, suspension, or alteration of certificates issued pursuant to § 39-19-4; appeals under § 39-1-30; petitions under § 39-1-31; and proceedings under § 39-1-32.

(b) The administrator shall be a person who is not a commissioner and who shall exercise the jurisdiction, supervision, powers, and duties not specifically assigned to the commission, including the execution of all laws relating to public utilities and carriers and all regulations and orders of the commission governing the conduct and charges of public utilities and who shall perform other duties and have powers as are hereinafter set forth. The administrator shall be a person who is appointed by the governor for an initial term of six (6) years. The administrator shall be appointed with the advice and consent of the senate. The director of administration, with the approval of the governor, shall allocate the administrator to one of the grades established by the pay plan for unclassified employees. The public utilities administrator also shall have powers and duties as provided in § 46-15.3-20.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-6-27.1 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-6 / Section 39-6-27.1
§ 39-6-27.1. Maintenance of way employees in area of double or multiple tracks.
Status: in_force

Whenever maintenance of way crews or employees are working in the area of double or multiple railroad tracks, the following safety precautions shall be mandatory:

(1) All trains shall be notified of the location of the crews or employees by mile markers or mile posts by train order.

(2) All trains operating adjacent to such a work area shall reduce speed to freight train speed, not to exceed fifty miles per hour (50 m.p.h.).

(3) One member of the crew shall be assigned as a flagperson to warn of approaching trains and shall be equipped with a radio, horn, and flag.

(4) No work shall be conducted and all employees shall stand clear while a train is approaching, passing, and clearing a work area.

(5) Failure by the railroad company to issue information by train order, which results in any violation of the above requirements, will subject the railroad company to a fine of five hundred dollars ($500) for each violation. The fine will be collected by the public utilities commission and remitted to the general fund of the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-12-22 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-12 / Section 39-12-22
§ 39-12-22. Issuance of a permit to interstate carriers.
Status: in_force

Every motor carrier engaged in transporting property over the highways of this state for compensation, in interstate commerce, shall file an application with the administrator for a permit of registration. The application shall be accompanied by a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00). Upon a showing by the carrier that it has been authorized by the Interstate Commerce Commission to conduct an operation into, from, within, or through this state, and that the carrier is in compliance with all other requirements of this chapter, the administrator shall issue a permit of registration to the carrier as soon as possible, and the carrier shall not so operate in interstate commerce unless and until the permit of registration shall have been issued. The motor carrier shall be required to file with the administrator only that portion of its interstate authority permitting operations within the borders of this state, and the motor carrier shall not be required to file with the administrator emergency or temporary operating authority having a duration of thirty (30) consecutive days or less, if the carrier has registered its interstate authority and registered and identified its vehicles under the provisions of this chapter. The administrator shall prescribe reasonable rules and regulations governing the registration of interstate authority. Every intrastate motor carrier holding either a common-carrier certificate or a contract-carrier permit from the administrator is hereby granted the right to operate motor vehicles in interstate commerce in the transportation of property for compensation, as authorized by the Interstate Commerce Commission, without obtaining an interstate permit of registration from the administrator.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-2-5 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-2 / Section 39-2-5
§ 39-2-5. Exceptions to anti-discrimination provisions.
Status: repealed

The provisions of §§ 39-2-2  39-2-4 shall be subject to the following exceptions:

(1) A public utility may issue or give free transportation or service to its employees and their families, its officers, agents, surgeons, physicians, and attorneys at law, and to the officers, agents, and employees, and their families of any other public utility.

(2) With the approval of the division, any public utility may give free transportation or service, upon such conditions as the public utility may impose, or grant special rates therefor to the state, to any town or city, or to any water or fire district, and to the officers thereof, for public purposes, and also to any special class or classes of persons, not otherwise referred to in this section, in cases where the same shall seem to the division just and reasonable, or required in the interests of the public, and not unjustly discriminatory.

(3) With the approval of the division, any public utility operating a railroad or street railway may furnish to the publishers of newspapers and magazines, and to their employees, passenger transportation in return for advertising in the newspapers or magazines at full rates.

(4) With the approval of the division, any public utility may exchange its service for the service of any other public utility furnishing a different class of service.

(5) Nothing in this section or any other provision of the law shall be construed to prohibit the giving by any public utility, of free or reduced-rate service to an elderly person as defined by the division.

(6) Any motor carrier of persons, as defined in chapter 13 of this title, may elect to file a tariff providing for a rate reduction of twenty-five percent (25%) below its one-way-fare tariff applying to any person who is sixty-five (65) years of age or older and any person assisting and traveling with a blind passenger who is not required to pay any fare pursuant to the provisions of § 39-2-13 for bus rides between the hours of ten oclock (10:00) a.m. and three oclock (3:00) p.m. of each day. In such event, the reduced fare shall be paid in part by the passenger and in part by the state. That part of the reduced fare payable by the state shall be one-half (Â½) of the reduced fare adjusted upward to end in the nearest zero (0) or five cents (.05), and that part payable by the passenger shall be the balance of the reduced fare. Payments by the state under this section shall be paid monthly under procedures agreed upon by the department of transportation and the carrier.

(7) [Deleted by P.L. 2004, ch. 378, § 4, and by P.L. 2004, ch. 504, § 4.]

(8) Any person, firm, or corporation or any officer, agent, servant, or employee thereof who shall violate the provisions of subsection (7) of this section by fraudulently obtaining a telecommunications device shall, upon conviction, be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) or be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year.

(9)(i) Nothing in this section or any other provision of the general laws shall be construed to prohibit the commission from taking actions to enable the state to participate in a Federal Communications Commission telephone lifeline program. The commission may set a subscriber-funded, monthly residence basic exchange lifeline telephone service credit in an amount not to exceed the federal subscriber line access charge or the monthly basic-service charge, whichever is less, for those persons who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC), general public assistance (GPA), aid from the Rhode Island medical assistance program, or food stamps issued pursuant to the Food Stamp Act of 1964 as amended (Pub. L. No. 88-525 and amendments made thereto, 7 U.S.C. § 2011 et seq.), assistance from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as administered by the department of administration, division of planning, and effective April 1, 1993, assistance from the Rhode Island pharmaceutical assistance program administered by the office of healthy aging. The public utilities commission may promulgate regulations to implement this section. The department of human services and the department of administration, division of planning, shall certify subscriber eligibility for the programs in accordance with public utilities commission and Federal Communications Commission guidelines.

(ii) The department of human services shall report monthly to the governor and to the house of representatives fiscal advisor the number of persons newly eligible for the lifeline telephone service credit hereunder solely by virtue of their eligibility to receive food stamp assistance and the department of administration, division of planning, shall, also, report monthly to the governor and to the house of representatives fiscal advisor the number of persons newly eligible for the lifeline telephone service credit hereunder solely by virtue of their participation in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

(10) Nothing in this section or any other provision of the general laws shall be construed to prohibit any public utility with the approval of the commission, from forgiving arrearages of any person in accordance with the provisions of § 39-2-1(d).

(11) Nothing in this section or any other provision of the law shall be construed to prohibit any utility company from cutting, disconnecting, or removing mains, poles, wires, conduits, or fixtures free of charge to nonprofit housing development corporations prior to moving a building to be used as affordable housing for at least a ten-year (10) period.

(12) Nothing in this section or any other provision of the general laws shall be construed to prohibit any telecommunications provider, with the approval of the commission, from offering any residential customer a reduced rate, provided such rate covers all costs. A telecommunications provider may offer a business customer a reduced rate without commission approval; provided that the rate covers all costs.

(13) A gas or electric distribution company may provide discounts to low-income customers in accordance with the affordable energy plan provisions of § 42-141-5(d) [repealed]. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit the continuation of any low-income discounts approved by the commission prior to January 1, 2006, and in effect as of that date.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-30-1 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-30 / Section 39-30-1
§ 39-30-1. Findings and purposes.
Status: in_force

(a) The Rhode Island general assembly finds and declares that:

(1) Taxpayers are mandated to pay the electric distribution company large sums every year to light municipal and many state-owned streets;

(2) Municipalities are limited in how they can manage this public safety resource because they do not own or control the light fixtures within their borders;

(3) There is no incentive in the applicable electric-rate tariff for installing energy-efficient lighting technologies that may reduce both power and maintenance expenses;

(4) There is no provision in the applicable electric-rate tariff for municipalities to work collectively to manage the maintenance of the streetlighting system; and

(5) Municipalities around the country have saved considerable resources by purchasing their streetlight systems from electric distribution companies and contracting for the maintenance independently.

(b) Now, therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to reduce municipal streetlighting costs and improve service to citizens by:

(1) Improving public safety with streetlights that provide better illumination;

(2) Reducing maintenance costs by allowing municipalities to own the street and area lighting within their borders and to enter into regional maintenance service contracts;

(3) Reducing whole-system cost through municipal ownership and regional management and by eliminating the current facilities charge;

(4) Providing innovative and proven technologies for more efficient lighting; and

(5) Providing more responsive service for lighting repairs.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-4-13 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-4 / Section 39-4-13
§ 39-4-13. Summary investigation by division.
Status: in_force

Whenever the division shall believe that any of the rates, tolls, charges, or any joint rate or rates, charged, demanded, exacted, or collected by any public utility are in any respect unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory or otherwise in violation of this title, or that any regulation, measurement, practice, or act whatsoever of the public utility, affecting or relating to the conveyance of persons or property, or any service in connection therewith, or affecting or relating to the production, transmission, delivery, or furnishing of heat, light, water, or power, or any service in connection therewith, or the conveyance of telephone or telegraph messages, or any service in connection therewith, is in any respect unreasonable, insufficient, or unjustly discriminatory; or that any service of the public utility is inadequate or cannot be obtained, or is unsafe, or the public health is endangered thereby; or that an investigation of any matter relating to a public utility should, for any reason be made, it shall summarily investigate the same with or without notice as it shall deem proper. The summary investigation as provided under this section shall be in addition to the hearings conducted pursuant to the provisions of §§ 39-3-7 and 39-3-11.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-2-20.1 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-2 / Section 39-2-20.1
§ 39-2-20.1. Internet service providers  Duty to disclose certain information.
Status: in_force

(a) As used in this chapter:

(1) Electronic communication service means any service that provides to its users the ability to send or receive wire or electronic communications.

(2) Foreign entities means any entity that makes a contract or engages in a term of service agreement with a resident of the state of Rhode Island and a foreign entity.

(3) Internet service provider means an entity offering the transmission, routing, or providing of connections of digital online communications, between or among points specified by a user, of material of the users choosing, without modification to the content of the material as sent or received and includes a provider of online services or network access, including entities that provide an electronic communication service or remote computing service, but does not mean the offering on a common carrier basis of telecommunication facilities or of telecommunications.

(4) Proper service means the delivery of a search warrant or an administrative subpoena by hand, by United States mail, by commercial delivery service, by facsimile, or by any other manner to any officer of a corporation or its general manager in the state of Rhode Island to any natural person designated by the entity as its agent for service of process, or if the corporation has designated a corporate agent.

(5) Remote computing service means the provision to the public of computer storage or processing services by means of an electronic communication system.

(6) Service of process on a foreign entity means that the service of a search warrant or subpoena that is properly served on the foreign entity shall have the same legal force and effect as if served personally within the state of Rhode Island.

(b)(1) An internet service provider, as defined herein, shall disclose subscriber account information consisting of the name, address, IP address, and telephone numbers associated with the account to the attorney general or to the superintendent of the Rhode Island state police upon proper service, and with certification under oath by the attorney general or by the superintendent of the Rhode Island state police, that the information is necessary for an officially documented criminal investigation or prosecution of criminal complaint based on probable cause related to: the exploitation for commercial or immoral purposes, pursuant to § 11-9-1; child nudity prohibited in publications pursuant to § 11-9-1.1; child pornography prohibited pursuant to § 11-9-1.3; employment of children for unlawful purposes pursuant to § 11-9-2; seizure and custody of exploited child  proceedings as against neglected child pursuant to § 11-9-3; contributing to delinquency pursuant to § 11-9-4; cruelty to or neglect of child pursuant to § 11-9-5; indecent solicitation of a child pursuant to § 11-37-8.8; access to computer for fraudulent purposes pursuant to § 11-52-2; intentional access, alteration, damage, or destruction pursuant to § 11-52-3; cyberstalking prohibited pursuant to § 11-52-4.2; violation of restraining order pursuant to § 11-52-4.3; use of false information pursuant to § 11-52-7, video voyeurism pursuant to § 11-64-2, online impersonation pursuant to § 11-52-7.1, and/or electronically disseminating indecent material to minors prohibited pursuant to § 11-9-1.5.

(2) A duly authorized law enforcement person, as designated above, after issuing a certification pursuant to this section, if an arrest, grand jury proceeding, or any criminal prosecution does not result within sixty (60) days, shall apply to a judge for a search warrant as soon as practicable, but not later than seventy-five (75) days after issuance of the certification. In the event that the application is not approved, no information obtained or evidence derived from the subpoena shall be received in evidence or otherwise disclosed in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding in or before any court, grand jury, department, office, agency, regulatory body, legislative committee, or other governmental authority or committee, and no information concerning any person acquired from the subpoena shall subsequently be used or disclosed in any other manner by state or local officers or employees without the consent of such person.

(c) An administrative subpoena issued to an internet service provider shall authorize the release of non-content-based subscriber information identifying the name, address, and telephone number of the account along with the internet protocol number.

(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, or any other provision of the general or public laws to the contrary, telephone records may not be released by an internet service provider pursuant to an administrative subpoena. The Rhode Island superior court shall have the authority to enforce the administrative subpoenas upon application by the issuing law enforcement authority.

(e) The attorney general and/or the superintendent of the Rhode Island state police who issues an administrative subpoena to internet service providers related to: the exploitation for commercial or immoral purposes, pursuant to § 11-9-1; child nudity prohibited in publications pursuant to § 11-9-1.1; child pornography prohibited pursuant to § 11-9-1.3; employment of children for unlawful purposes pursuant to § 11-9-2; seizure and custody of exploited child  proceedings as against neglected child pursuant to § 11-9-3; contributing to delinquency pursuant to § 11-9-4; cruelty to or neglect of child pursuant to § 11-9-5; indecent solicitation of a child pursuant to § 11-37-8.8; access to computer for fraudulent purposes pursuant to § 11-52-2; intentional access, alteration, damage, or destruction pursuant to § 11-52-3; cyberstalking prohibited pursuant to § 11-52-4.2; violation of restraining order pursuant to § 11-52-4.3; use of false information pursuant to § 11-52-7; video voyeurism pursuant to § 11-64-2; online impersonation pursuant to § 11-52-7.1; and/or electronically disseminating indecent material to minors prohibited pursuant to § 11-9-1.5, shall provide an annual report to the general assembly each year detailing the following:

(1) The number of administrative subpoenas issued in the previous year;

(2) The number of separate criminal investigations for which the administrative subpoenas were issued and whether the administrative subpoenas resulted in an arrest, indictment, or criminal information;

(3) The number of investigations that remain part of a pending investigation;

(4) The number that resulted in the closing of a criminal investigation as unfounded; and

(5) The number of investigations that did not result in an arrest, grand jury proceeding, or any criminal prosecution due to an inability to identify the subscriber.

(f) The attorney generals office and the Rhode Island state police shall compile and forward the reports to the general assembly on an annual basis by March 31 of each year for the previous year. The reports shall be a public record.

(g) No cause of action shall lie in any court against any internet service provider, its officers, employees, or agents for furnishing or disclosing information, in strict compliance with this section.

(h) No law enforcement officer, or any party to these investigations under this section, shall disclose any information obtained as a result of this section, except as it is essential to the proper discharge of their duties.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-17-5 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-17 / Section 39-17-5
§ 39-17-5. Delinquencies in franchise tax.
Status: in_force

In case any corporation shall neglect to make payment of the quarterly tax as provided in § 39-17-3, the town or city treasurer may collect and recover of the corporation, as other taxes are collectible, double the amount of the special tax shown to be due by the last preceding quarterly return of the corporation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-9-8 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-9 / Section 39-9-8
§ 39-9-8. Tariffs for transportation of milk.
Status: in_force

No railroad corporation shall contract to furnish facilities for the transportation of milk, or shall carry it in large quantities over any portion of its line, without at the same time establishing a tariff under which it will receive, forward, and deliver milk by the can over the same portion of its line for any person tendering the same, so that the milk by the can shall be carried under fairly proportionate advantages in every respect, including price, time, and reasonable care for the same, as the milk carried in large quantities or under contract.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-26-3 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-26 / Section 39-26-3
§ 39-26-3. Purposes.
Status: in_force

The purposes of this chapter are to define renewable energy resources and to facilitate the development of new renewable energy resources to supply electricity to customers in Rhode Island with goals of stabilizing long-term energy prices, enhancing environmental quality, and creating jobs in Rhode Island in the renewable energy sector.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-12-16 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-12 / Section 39-12-16
§ 39-12-16. Duty of contract carriers to establish reasonable rates  Publication of rate schedules  Rate discrimination  Rebates.
Status: in_force

(a) It shall be the duty of every contract carrier by motor vehicle to establish and observe reasonable rates and charges for any service rendered or to be rendered in the transportation of property, and to establish and observe reasonable regulations and practices to be applied in connection with the reasonable rates and charges.

(b) It shall be the duty of every contract carrier by motor vehicle to publish; file with the administrator on not less than thirty (30) days notice; and keep open for public inspection in the form and manner prescribed by the administrator, schedules containing the actual rates and charges of the carrier, and any rule, regulation, or practice affecting the rates or charges, and the value of the service thereunder. A filing fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) must accompany all filings made pursuant to this section. All revenues received under this section shall be deposited as general revenues.

(c) No contract carrier shall engage in the transportation of property, unless the effective contract or contracts are in force, and a copy or copies filed with the administrator, and/or unless the actual charges for transportation by the carrier have been published, filed, and posted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. No contract shall be filed nor reduction made in any charge, either directly or by means of any change in any rule, regulation, or practice affecting the charge or the value of the service under the contract, except after thirty (30) days notice of the proposed change filed in the manner and form as provided in subsection (b) of this section; provided, that the administrator may, in his or her discretion and for good cause shown, allow the change upon less notice, or may modify the requirements of this section with respect to the posting and filing of the schedules, either in particular instances or by general order, applicable to special or peculiar circumstances or conditions.

(d) The schedule of actual rates of every contract carrier shall contain a list of all parties with whom contracts are or may, from time to time, be in effect, without designation of the party for whom the motor carrier services are being or are to be performed.

(e) No carrier shall demand, or collect, or charge a less compensation for transportation than the charge contained in his or her written contract and published in his or her schedule of actual rates on file with the administrator, or prescribed after a hearing by the administrator; and it shall be unlawful for any contract carrier, by the furnishing of special services, facilities, or privileges, or by any other device whatsoever, to charge, accept, or receive less than the actual rates and charges so filed or prescribed. The charges of the contract carriers shall be no less than those of common carriers for substantially the same or similar service.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-17-6 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-17 / Section 39-17-6
§ 39-17-6. Rate increases during term of franchise.
Status: in_force

No corporation which shall acquire exclusive rights or franchises under the provisions of this chapter, shall at any time during the continuance thereof charge for its product, wares, or service, to any town or city or the inhabitants thereof, any greater price than the price actually charged by it at the time of the granting of the rights or franchises, both prices being reckoned in United States gold coin of the standard weight and fineness in force at the time of the granting of the right or franchise, or in the equivalent thereof in actual value in other lawful money of the United States.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-2-25 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-2 / Section 39-2-25
§ 39-2-25. Contact voltage, detection, repair, and reporting.
Status: in_force

(a) As used in this section, contact voltage means and/or refers to a voltage resulting from abnormal power system conditions that may be present between two (2) conductive surfaces that can be simultaneously contacted by members of the general public and/or their animals. Contact voltage is caused by power system fault current as it flows through the impedance of available fault current pathways. Faults contributing to contact voltage may be due to electric system deterioration or damage or improper installation. Contact voltage is of greatest concern in areas where underground electric-distribution systems exist, as faults on those systems may remain active for long periods of time before detection and repair, and therefore contact voltage is a potential shock hazard.

(b) Notwithstanding any general or public law, rule, regulation, or order to the contrary, the Rhode Island public utilities commission and the Rhode Island division of utilities and carriers shall initiate a proceeding within forty-five (45) days of the effective date of this section, to establish, after notice and provision of the opportunity for comment and public hearing, a contact voltage detection and repair program. The program shall require electric distribution companies to implement appropriate procedures to detect contact voltage on publicly accessible surfaces that could become energized by contact voltage due to faults in the underground distribution system. The program shall also recognize the potential for publicly accessible objects such as sidewalks, roadways, fences, storm drains, or other metallic gratings to become energized by faults to the underground distribution system. The program shall require every electric distribution company to adhere to appropriate procedures established by the commission to:

(1) Designate contact voltage risk areas. The boundaries of such areas shall be approved by the commission and shall be based on the presence of underground electric distribution and situated in pedestrian-dense areas such as urban neighborhoods, commercial areas, central business districts, tourist heavy locations, and other places where pedestrians could be exposed to contact voltage;

(2) By June 30, 2013, conduct an initial survey of no less than forty percent (40%) of designated contact voltage risk areas, for contact voltage hazards on all conductive surfaces in public rights-of-way using equipment and technology as determined by the commission;

(3) Beginning July 1, 2013, annually survey no less than twenty percent (20%) of designated contact voltage risk areas, for contact voltage hazards on all conductive surfaces in public rights-of-way using equipment and technology as determined by the commission;

(4) Repair power system faults of the electric distribution companys underground distribution system, that result in contact voltage appearing on publicly accessible surfaces of a level to be determined by the division of public utilities and carriers;

(5) If during a survey for contact voltage hazards on conductive surfaces in public rights-of-way, an energized surface is identified and the proximate cause is found not to be a utility company asset, then the utility company has no legal duty; however, the company may: clearly designate the area as a contact voltage hazard, and/or notify the account owner or owner of the asset causing the contact voltage hazard, and inform the owner of his or her obligation to perform all necessary repairs consistent with the terms contained in this section;

(6) Annually report on contact voltage findings, including, but not limited to, the number and type of energized objects on both company-owned and customer-owned assets; voltage level; corrective action taken; shocks that occur to members of the public or to pets owned by members of the public; and any other information that the commission deems appropriate.

(c) The commission shall require, as part of the program established pursuant to subsection (b), that electric distribution companies maintain records of the testing and subsequent maintenance or repairs performed by the electric distribution companies, and submit copies of the records to the commission, which shall make the records available for public inspection. The costs of this program shall be fully recovered by the utility company annually through a fully reconciling funding mechanism to be submitted annually to the commission for review and approval.

(d) The commission shall review and determine which equipment and technology shall be used for the surveying of contact voltage consistent with subsections (b)(2) and (b)(3). Such a review may include, but not be limited to, the use of mobile testing technology.

(e) Any electric distribution company that fails to comply with the requirements of the program established pursuant to subsection (b) shall be subject to a penalty to be determined by the commission and in compliance with this title.

(f) As used in this section, electric distribution company means a company as defined in § 39-1-2(a)(12), but not including the Block Island Power Company or the Pascoag Utility District.

(g) The commission shall, within one hundred twenty (120) days of the effective date of this section, conclude the proceeding initiated pursuant to subsection (b). Within these one hundred twenty (120) days, the commission shall also issue an order establishing the contact voltage detection and repair program. Within one year after the issuance of the order establishing the program, and during each subsequent one-year period following the date of issuance of that order, the commission shall provide the legislature with a report on the effectiveness of the program, and any recommendations for any changes thereto, including whether to require the Block Island Power Company or the Pascoag Utility District to develop and participate in a contact voltage detection and repair program.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-4-21 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-4 / Section 39-4-21
§ 39-4-21. Privilege against self-incrimination.
Status: in_force

No person shall be excused from testifying or from producing any books, accounts, papers, records, or documents in any investigation or inquiry by, or upon any hearing before, the division or member thereof when ordered to do so by the division or member, upon the ground that the testimony or evidence, accounts, papers, records, books, or documents, required of him or her may tend to incriminate him or her or subject him or her to penalty or forfeiture; but no person shall be prosecuted, punished, or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any act, transaction, matter, or thing concerning which he or she shall, under oath, by order of the division or a member thereof, have testified or produced the documentary evidence; provided, that no person so testifying shall be exempt from prosecution or punishment for any perjury committed by him or her in his or her testimony. Nothing contained in this section is intended to give or shall be construed as in any manner giving any corporation immunity of any kind from the law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-34-4 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-34 / Section 39-34-4
§ 39-34-4. Existing rights and electric distribution companies.
Status: in_force

Nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted to limit or restrict the rights that electric distribution companies currently have to conduct vegetation management activities provided by existing statute or regulation, including, but not limited to, those rights conferred by 650 RICR 20-00-9.6 and 250 RICR 150-15-3.6, as amended.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-12-21 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-12 / Section 39-12-21
§ 39-12-21. Dual operations.
Status: in_force

Persons holding a certificate as a common carrier may also perform as a contract carrier under the authority of certificate.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-3-17 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-3 / Section 39-3-17
§ 39-3-17. Procedure for obtaining authority for security issues.
Status: in_force

(a) The proceedings for obtaining the consent and authority of the division for the security issue as provided in §§ 39-3-15  39-3-23 shall be as follows:

(1) In case the stocks, bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness are to be issued for money only, the public utility shall file with the division a statement, signed and verified by the president and secretary thereof, setting forth:

(i) The amount and character of the stocks, bonds, or other evidence of indebtedness;

(ii) The purposes for which they are to be issued;

(iii) The terms upon which they are to be issued;

(iv) The total assets and liabilities of the public utility in such detail as the division may require;

(v) If the issue is desired for the purpose of reimbursement of money expended from income, as herein provided, the amount expended, when and for what purposes expended; and

(vi) Such other facts and information pertinent to the inquiry as the division may require.

(2) If the stocks, bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness are to be issued, partly, or wholly for property or services or other consideration than money, the public utility shall file with the division a statement, signed and verified by its president and secretary, setting forth:

(i) The amount and character of the stocks, bonds, or other evidence of indebtedness proposed to be issued;

(ii) The purposes for which they are to be issued;

(iii) The description and value of the property or services for which they are to be issued;

(iv) The terms on which they are to be issued or exchanged;

(v) The amount of money, if any, to be received from the same in addition to the property, service, or other consideration;

(vi) The total assets and liabilities of the public utility in such detail as the division may require; and

(vii) Such other facts and information pertinent to the inquiry as the division may require.

(b) For the purpose of enabling the division to determine whether it should issue the order, it shall hold such hearings, make such inquiries or investigations, and examine such witnesses, books, papers, documents, and contracts as it may deem proper.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-14-27 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-14 / Section 39-14-27
§ 39-14-27. Rules governing transportation of passengers via taxicabs.
Status: in_force

The following provisions shall govern the operation of taxicabs used to transport passengers, notwithstanding any regulations to the contrary:

(1) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, no taxicab shall operate beyond an odometer reading of three hundred thousand (300,000) miles or ten (10) model years, whichever is the first to occur.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, no motor vehicle shall initially be put in service as a taxicab if the vehicle is more than eight (8) model years old.

(3) An exception may be granted to subsections (1) and (2) of this section in cases involving vehicles in extraordinary condition. The certificate holder may petition the administrator of the division of public utilities and carriers (the administrator) for an exemption from the prohibitions provided in subsections (1) and (2) of this section. In order to be granted an exemption, the petitioner shall demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the administrator, that the vehicle to be used as a taxicab would be as acceptable to the public as the newer taxicabs mandated under the rules and regulations of the division of public utilities and carriers; that the vehicle has few, if any, of the interior and exterior wear signs concomitant with vehicles of that older vintage; and that the vehicle appears and functions in relatively original condition.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-14-9 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-14 / Section 39-14-9
§ 39-14-9. Vehicles to be operated by owner or employee  Assignment or lease of rights.
Status: in_force

Every person proposing to enter into a contract, agreement, arrangement, or understanding, whereby the owner of a taxicab or limited public motor vehicle leases or otherwise lets a taxicab or limited public motor vehicle to an operator, shall file with the administrator, in the form to be provided by him or her, an application for approval of the agreement. The division shall, upon written application setting forth the purpose, terms, and conditions of the lease agreement, after investigation, approve or deny the request. The lease agreement shall be approved by the administrator if, after investigation, the applicant operator is found to be fit, willing, and able to perform the authorized service and to conform to the provisions of this chapter and the requirements, orders, rules, and regulations of the administrator thereunder.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-21-6 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-21 / Section 39-21-6
§ 39-21-6. Cooperation with federal government.
Status: in_force

(a) The division shall have full and complete authority to cooperate with and assist the federal government in all matters relating to the planning, constructing, equipping, maintenance, and operation of the project in the event that the federal government should make any federal funds or federal assistance available therefor.

(b) The division, or any officers or executives designated by it, may act as agent of the federal government in accordance with the requirements of any federal legislation related to federal assistance.

(c) The division is hereby authorized to accept the provisions of any federal legislation, and may file written evidence of each acceptance with the federal government. Each acceptance shall be duly signed by the associate director or such other person or persons as the governor or director of public safety may designate.

(d) The division may enter into all necessary contracts and agreements with the federal or state governments, or any agency thereof, necessary or incident to the project, and all contracts and agreements shall be signed in the name of the division by the associate director or some other person or persons designated by the governor or director of public safety.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-32-2 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-32 / Section 39-32-2
§ 39-32-2. Regulation of small wireless facilities.
Status: in_force

(a) A wireless service provider authorized to do business in this state or a contractor acting on its behalf may collocate small wireless facilities within, along, across, upon, and under any public right-of-way in this state, including state highways and freeways, and may construct conduit, cables, and facilities between such small wireless facility and other equipment or services located on or adjacent to the supporting pole or other structure, subject to the provisions of this chapter.

(b) Except as provided in this chapter, an authority shall not prohibit, regulate, or charge for the collocation of small wireless facilities.

(c) Small wireless facilities shall be classified as permitted uses in all zoning districts and shall not be subject to zoning review or approval.

(d) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize a person to collocate a small wireless facility on a privately owned pole, structure, or other private property without the consent of the property owner.

(e) All agreements between authorities and wireless service providers that are in effect on the effective date of this chapter [September 27, 2017] and that relate to the collocation of small wireless facilities in the public right-of-way or on authority poles or structures shall remain in effect, subject to any termination provisions in such agreements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the election of a wireless service provider, the rates, fees, terms, and conditions established pursuant to this chapter shall apply to small wireless facilities that are the subject of an application submitted after the effective date of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-31-10 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-31 / Section 39-31-10
§ 39-31-10. Offshore wind procurement.
Status: in_force

(a) The electric distribution company is hereby authorized and required to issue a request for proposals for at least six hundred megawatts (600 MW) but no greater than one thousand megawatts (1,000 MW) of newly-developed offshore wind capacity no later than October 15, 2022. The electric distribution company shall develop the request for proposals (RFP) in consultation with the Rhode Island office of energy resources and the Rhode Island division of public utilities and carriers. Review of any proposed contract(s) resulting from this procurement shall be conducted by the commission consistent with the requirements of this chapter. The request for proposals shall require all bidders to provide, at a minimum, information on potential environmental impacts through the submittal of an environmental and fisheries mitigation plan, which shall include site and environmental data transparency requirements; a site layout plan and maps that illustrate the location of all on-shore and offshore equipment and facilities and clearly delineates the perimeter of the area in which offshore wind turbines will be placed; annualized estimates for all economic benefits, including the specific in-state expenditures and employment proposed during the development, construction, and operation and maintenance phases of the project; a diversity, equity, and inclusion plan that, at a minimum, provides the bidders proposed strategy to enable access to employment and vendor opportunities for historically marginalized communities; identification of Rhode Island vendors and other domestic offshore wind supply chain opportunities associated with the project; and a plan outlining the bidders intentions with respect to the negotiation of a project labor agreement(s) to cover construction activities on a proposed project. This information shall be incorporated in the procurements evaluation and scoring criteria.

(b) The electric distribution company, prior to its issuance, shall file the RFP as described in subsection (a) of this section with the commission solely for the purpose of soliciting public comment. The RFP shall be available for thirty (30) days and the commission shall accept written comment throughout that period, and it shall hold one public hearing to accept oral comments. Following the public comment period, the electric distribution company shall issue the RFP with no further action of the commission. Should the electric distribution company subsequently file a contract resulting from the RFP under subsection (c) of this section, or an alternative filing under subsection (d) of this section, it shall provide testimony responding to the public comments either indicating how it was incorporated into the final filing or was not germane to the procurement.

(c) Unless the electric distribution company determines that the bids are unlikely to lead to contracts that comply with all of the requirements of this section and § 39-31-6, it shall select a project or projects for negotiating a contract that shall be conditioned upon approval by the commission. Negotiations shall proceed in good faith to achieve a commercially reasonable contract that meets the standards set forth in this chapter. Should the distribution company and the selected party agree to a contract, the contract shall be filed with the commission no later than March 15, 2024, for commission approval. The commission shall review the contract and issue an order approving or disapproving the contract within one hundred twenty (120) days of the filing. If the parties are unable to reach agreement on a contract prior to March 15, 2024, an unsigned copy noting which items have mutual agreement and providing each parties preferred terms that remain in dispute shall be filed with the commission by the electric distribution company prior to that same date. The commission shall have the authority to evaluate the unsigned contract consistent with the terms of this chapter, rule on any outstanding terms in dispute, and order the electric distribution company to execute the approved contract. In such case of a disputed contract, the commission has the discretion to extend the deadline for approval as needed to complete its review.

(d) If the electric distribution company determines that the bids are unlikely to lead to contracts that meet all of the requirements of this section and § 39-31-6, it shall submit a filing to the commission together with testimony to explain why it should not be required to negotiate a contract. The commission shall review and rule on the filing within ninety (90) days, which review shall include soliciting input from the agencies required to provide advisory opinions to the commission, and public comment. If the electric distribution company fails to show that the bids are unlikely to lead to a contract that meets all the requirements of this section and § 39-31-6 the commission may order the utility to proceed with negotiations as set forth in subsection (c) of this section.

(e) Long-term contracts shall require that developers of newly developed renewable energy resources will enter into a labor peace agreement with at least one bona fide labor organization either where such bona fide labor organization is actively representing employees providing necessary construction, operations and maintenance services for the newly developed renewable energy resource at the time of such agreement or upon notice by a bona fide labor organization that is attempting to represent employees who will provide necessary operations and maintenance services for the renewable energy system employed in the state. The maintenance of such a labor peace agreement shall be an ongoing material condition of any continuation of payments under the contract.

(f) Developers of newly developed renewable energy resources shall pay each construction, operations and maintenance employees wages and benefits that are not less than the prevailing wage and fringe benefit rates at the journeyman level that are prescribed by the department of labor and training pursuant to chapter 13 of title 37, for the corresponding classification in which the employee is employed, and not less than the prevailing wage rates for employees for which there is no classification prescribed by the department of labor and training; provided that, a worker may be paid wages and benefits not less than the rate applicable to apprentices for the pertinent classification if:

(1) The worker is a participant in an approved apprenticeship program; and

(2) The approved apprenticeship program from which the apprentice is hired maintains a direct entry agreement with a certified pre-apprenticeship training program.

(g) Solicitations by the electric distribution company shall reflect the requirements of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-15-5 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-15 / Section 39-15-5
§ 39-15-5. Plat and description of property condemned.
Status: in_force

The town, person, or corporation taking any property, estate, or right of property under the provisions of this chapter, shall first cause a plat with a description thereof to be made, which, with a certificate of the taking of the property, estate, or right of property, shall contain a list of the owners thereof and of the persons interested therein, so far as the owners or person interested therein may be known to the town, person, or corporation taking the property, estate, or right of property, and which shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the superior court for the county where the property or estate is located.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-12-10 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-12 / Section 39-12-10
§ 39-12-10. Issuance of permit to contract carrier.
Status: in_force

A permit shall be issued to any qualified applicant therefor authorizing, in whole or in part, the operations covered by the application, if it shall appear, after a hearing, that the applicant is fit, willing, and able properly to perform the services of a contract carrier by motor vehicle; and to conform to the provisions of this chapter and the requirements, rules, and regulations of the administrator made thereunder; and that the proposed operation, to the extent authorized by the permit, will be consistent with the public interest; otherwise, the application shall be denied. Permits issued under this chapter shall be renewed before the close of business on December 31 of each calendar year. The renewal fee shall be one hundred dollars ($100) and shall be submitted with the renewal form. All revenues received under this section shall be deposited as general revenues. The administrator shall specify in the permit the business of the contract carrier covered thereby and the scope thereof; and he or she shall attach to it at the time of issuance, and from time to time thereafter, such reasonable terms, conditions, and limitations consistent with the character of the holder as a contract carrier, as the public interest may require, but may in no way limit the number of contracts that the contract carrier may hold under the permit. The contract carrier shall have the right to substitute or add to his or her or its equipment and facilities as the development of the business may require.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-3-12.1 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-3 / Section 39-3-12.1
§ 39-3-12.1. Information required of water utility.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, no water company, supplier, or water utility regulated by the commission shall be allowed to file its rate schedules or notice of changes in rates unless it shall also file a statement containing the following information:

(1) The status of its physical plant, including the volume of its water supply and the source of the supply.

(2) The maintenance policy of the utility, to include the date distribution pipes were last installed, and the length of pipe installed for at least a ten-year (10) duration.

(3) The name and cost of each chemical introduced into the water supply during the most recent six-month (6) period, including the amount used and the purpose for the use.

(4) The policy of the utility toward future expansion and renovation of the physical plant, including the amount of funds expended within the preceding year and expected to be expended within the next year for expansion, renovation, equipment purchase, and/or research and development.

(b) Copies of the statements will be filed with the city and town councils of those cities and towns serviced by the utility.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-18-7 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-18 / Section 39-18-7
§ 39-18-7. Bonds.
Status: in_force

(a) The authority is hereby authorized to provide, by resolution, for the issuance at one time, or from time to time, of bonds of the authority for any of its purposes. The bonds may be general obligations of the authority or special obligations payable only from particular funds. The bonds of each issue shall be dated, shall bear interest at such rate or rates as may be determined by the authority, and shall mature at such time or times not exceeding thirty (30) years from their date or dates as may be determined by the authority, and may be made redeemable before maturity, at the option of the authority, at such price or prices and under such terms and conditions as may be fixed by the authority prior to the issuance of the bonds. Temporary notes of the authority issued in anticipation of revenues to be received by the authority or in anticipation of the receipt of federal, state, or local grants or other aid shall mature no later than thirteen (13) months from their respective dates or six (6) months after the expected date of receipt of the grants or aid, whichever shall be later, and shall be in an amount not exceeding the limitations imposed by the last paragraph of this section. The authority shall determine the form of the bonds, including any interest coupons to be attached thereto, and shall fix the denomination or denominations of the bonds and the place or places of payment of the principal and interest which may be at any bank or trust company within or without the state. The bonds shall be signed by the chairperson of the authority or shall bear his or her facsimile signature, and the official seal of the authority, or a facsimile thereof, shall be impressed or imprinted thereupon and attested by the secretary of the authority, and any coupons attached to the bonds shall bear the facsimile signature of the chairperson of the authority. In case any officer whose signature or facsimile of whose signature shall appear on any bonds or coupons shall cease to be the officer before the delivery of the bonds, the signature or the facsimile shall, nevertheless, be valid and sufficient for all purposes the same as if he or she had remained in office until delivery. The bonds may be issued in coupon or in registered form, or both, as the authority may determine, and provision may be made for the registration of any coupon bonds as to principal alone, and also as to both principal and interest, for the reconversion into coupon bonds of any bonds registered as to both principal and interest, and for the interchange of registered and coupon bonds. The authority may sell such bonds in such manner either at public or private sale and for the price as it may determine will best effect the purposes of this chapter.

(b) The proceeds of the bonds of each issue shall be disbursed in the manner and under restrictions, if any, as the authority may provide in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds or in the trust agreement described in § 39-18-8 securing the bonds.

(c) Prior to the preparation of definitive bonds, the authority may, under like restrictions, issue interim receipts or temporary bonds, with or without coupons, exchangeable for definitive bonds when the bonds shall have been executed and are available for delivery. The authority may also provide for the replacement of any bonds that shall become mutilated or shall be destroyed or lost. Except as provided in the following paragraph, bonds may be issued under the provisions of this chapter without obtaining the consent of any department, division, commission, board, bureau, or agency of the state, and without any other proceedings or the happening of any other conditions or things than those proceedings, conditions, or things that are specifically required by this chapter.

(d) No bonds shall be issued by the authority unless, at the time of the adoption by the authority of the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds, the authority shall have received from the general manager or chief financial officer of the authority a certificate indicating that the payments of principal (including any payments made to a reserve fund other than payments made from bond proceeds) and interest on the bonds, together with the payments of the principal and interest on all other then outstanding bonds of the authority, will not exceed during any fiscal year of the authority eighty percent (80%) of the revenues (including, without limitation, grants and other aid) of the authority during the fiscal year. In determining the amount of the principal and interest payments to be made during any fiscal year, there shall be deducted any payments to be made from a reserve fund previously established to provide for the payments. The certificate shall be based upon the reasonable expectations (both as to the amount of revenues to be received by the authority and as to the maximum amount of any variable payments to be made on the bonds) of the officer of the authority executing the certificate at the time the certificate is delivered. The certificate shall describe with reasonable particularity the calculations of principal and interest payments and of anticipated revenues upon which the certificate is based. A copy of the certificate shall be furnished to the governor prior to the issuance of the bonds described in the certificate and, in the case of any bonds whose issuance, according to the certificate, is expected to result in the aggregate amount of principal and interest payments (calculated as above) on the bonds and all then outstanding bonds of the authority exceeding in any fiscal year of the authority fifty percent (50%) of the revenues of the authority, the bonds shall not be issued unless the governor shall have approved the issuance or not disapproved the issuance within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the certificate. Approval or disapproval of any bond issue by the governor shall be evidenced by delivery to the authority of a certificate approving or disapproving the issue or any part thereof.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-14-16 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-14 / Section 39-14-16
§ 39-14-16. Posting of schedule of fares.
Status: in_force

The owner of every taxicab or limited public motor vehicle shall post in a conspicuous place, in each of the taxicabs or limited public motor vehicles owned by him or her, a schedule of the fares to be collected from the passengers therein, and the schedule shall be so written and arranged that the passengers can readily determine the exact fare payable by them, and it shall be unlawful to collect any fare otherwise than as appearing on and determinable from the schedule.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-21-10 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-21 / Section 39-21-10
§ 39-21-10. Appropriation of revenues.
Status: in_force

With the exception of money received by the division from the sale or licensing of communications and educational materials regarding the use of 911 as a uniform emergency telephone number and system, all money received by the division for the use of the facilities of the project shall be paid over to the general treasurer and by him or her deposited in the fund. All money in the fund is hereby appropriated by the provisions of the chapter to be expended by the division for administration and all expenses relating to the planning, construction, equipping, operation, and maintenance of the project; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of such sum or sums as may be necessary from time to time. All money received by the division for the sale or licensing of communications and educational materials as described in this chapter shall be deposited into a separate account or fund by the general treasurer for the sole restricted purpose of financially supporting the creation, distribution, and use of public educational materials regarding the use of 911 as a uniform emergency telephone number and system. For these purposes, the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of such sum or sums as may be necessary, from time to time, as determined by the associate director, or his or her designee.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-2-8 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-2 / Section 39-2-8
§ 39-2-8. Penalty for violations.
Status: in_force

Any public utility which shall violate any provision of chapters 1  5 of this title, or shall do any act herein prohibited, or shall fail or refuse to perform any duty enjoined upon it for which a penalty has not been provided, shall be subject to a penalty of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), and in the case of a continuing violation of any of the provisions of the chapters, every days continuance thereof shall be deemed to be a separate and distinct offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-16-8 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-16 / Section 39-16-8
§ 39-16-8. Powers of authority.
Status: in_force

The authority shall have power:

(1) To acquire property by voluntary purchase from the owner or owners thereof; and if the authority deems it advisable, to acquire any of the properties through the purchase of stock and obligations of a corporation owning the property and the dissolution of the corporation. The owner or owners of any property that the authority is herein authorized to acquire are hereby authorized to sell or otherwise transfer the same to the authority, and in the case of a sale or other transfer of property pursuant to this provision it shall be lawful to dissolve the corporation, any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding.

(2) To own and operate, maintain, repair, improve, enlarge, and extend, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, any property acquired hereunder all of which, together with the acquisition of the property, are hereby declared to be public purposes.

(3) To produce, distribute, and sell water within or without the territorial limits of the district.

(4) To sue and be sued.

(5) To adopt and alter a corporate seal.

(6) To acquire, hold, use, lease, sell, transfer, and dispose of any property, real, personal, or mixed, or interest therein for its corporate purposes, and to mortgage, pledge, or lease any such property; provided, however, that in the case of any sale or proposed sale of any real property hereunder, the authority shall first grant to the city or town in which the real property, or any part thereof, is situated the right to purchase the real property, or portion thereof situated within its boundaries, upon the same terms and conditions as the authority offers or proposes to offer to any other prospective purchaser.

(7) To make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs.

(8) To borrow money for any of its corporate purposes, including the creation and maintenance of working capital, and to issue negotiable bonds, notes, or other obligations, and to fund or refund the same.

(9) To fix rates and collect charges for the use of the facilities of or services rendered by or any commodities furnished by the authority, such as to provide revenues sufficient at all times to pay, as the same shall become due, the principal and interest on the bonds of the authority, together with the maintenance of proper reserves therefor, in addition to paying, as the same shall become due, the expense of operating and maintaining the properties of the authority, together with proper reserves for depreciation, maintenance, and contingencies and all other obligations and indebtedness of the authority. The authority shall charge any city, county, or town for the use of any facility of or service rendered by or any commodities furnished to it by the authority at rates applicable to other users taking similar service.

(10) To contract in its own name for any lawful purpose that would effectuate the provisions of this chapter; to execute all instruments necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter; and to do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers expressly granted by this chapter; provided, however, that the full faith, credit, and taxing power of the state or of any city, county, town, or other political subdivision shall never be pledged, nor shall any bond, note, or other evidence of indebtedness of the authority constitute the obligation of the state or of any city, county, town, or other political subdivision, but shall be solely the obligation of the authority. It is the intention of the legislature that any property acquired by the authority pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be financed as a self-liquidating enterprise, and that any indebtedness incurred by the authority shall be payable solely from the earnings or revenues derived from all or part of the property acquired by the authority.

(11) To enter into cooperative agreements with cities, counties, towns, or water companies within or without the district for the interconnection of facilities or for any other lawful corporate purposes necessary or desirable to effect the purposes of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-34-3 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-34 / Section 39-34-3
§ 39-34-3. Vegetation management standards and practices.
Status: in_force

(a) Each electric distribution company as defined by § 39-1-2(a) having greater than one hundred thousand (100,000) customers shall file with the division vegetation management standards and practices for application across its service territory.

(b) Vegetation management standards and practices shall, at a minimum, include the following:

(1) Specifications, under various design scenarios, for vegetation clearing on and around utility infrastructure along public and private rights of way;

(2) A notification process for municipalities, state agencies, and/or private property owners that may be impacted by vegetation management activities. This process shall provide notification to affected parties at least thirty (30) days in advance of any scheduled vegetation management activity and allow for exclusions to preserve public safety and/or respond to storm or other emergency events. Notification shall include how a customer can contact the electric distribution company with questions or complaints concerning vegetation management activities and provide a toll-free telephone number with service in English and Spanish. For municipalities, notification shall be provided to tree wardens and shall include a workplan that provides information on the locations, vendors, and schedules associated with planned vegetation management activities in the community;

(3) Establishment of an educational outreach right tree, right place program that provides the public with information including, but not limited to, the types of trees and other vegetation that can be safely planted near utility-owned power lines and other electric system infrastructure, and recommended set back dimensions for new plantings near utility infrastructure. The program may also give consideration to municipal tree inventories, tree equity programs, and tree canopy programs where they exist. The electric distribution company may partner with state agencies, municipalities, tree wardens, and/or community or nonprofit organizations in the development and/or implementation of this program;

(4) A website hosted by the electric distribution company that includes a copy of proposed or approved vegetation management standards and practices, and related reference and educational materials including those materials developed pursuant to subsection (b)(3) of this section, and provides a toll-free customer service number with service in English and Spanish for customer questions or complaints;

(5) A description of how the electric distribution company will comply with state arborist licensing requirements pursuant to chapter 19 of title 2; and

(6) A process by which the electric distribution company will seek approval from property owners for tree removal, including, but not limited to, the removal of dead or diseased trees that pose a risk to the electric system and system reliability.

(c) The electric distribution company shall consider industry best practices and standards, such as applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards, in the development of its vegetation management standards and practices.

(d) Prior to development of its vegetation management standards and practices, the electric distribution company shall hold at least one joint meeting of city or town tree wardens appointed pursuant to chapter 14 of title 2 to discuss the type of work to be completed by the company, identify collaborative strategies to address emerging threats to vegetation and protect desirable trees, and consider other issues relevant to vegetation management and the protection of electric distribution system infrastructure. The electric distribution company shall also present an overview of its proposed vegetation management standards and practices to city or town tree wardens at least ninety (90) days prior to filing its standards and practices pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, and accept written comments from tree wardens for thirty (30) days following its presentation. The electric distribution company may meet with city or town tree wardens, from time to time, to provide updates on its vegetation management standards and practices.

(e) The electric distribution company shall send each city or town council in its service territory a letter informing them that proposed vegetation management standards and practices have been filed with the division. The electric distribution company shall also provide electronic notification of the same to city or town tree wardens and tree commissions in its service territory.

(f) Upon receipt, the division shall post the electric distribution companys proposed vegetation management standards and practices on its website and conduct a review of the proposed standards and practices to ensure they comply with industry standards, account for the impacts of a changing climate, and facilitate the operation of a safe and highly reliable electric distribution system for all electric customers.

(1) The division shall accept public comment on proposed vegetation management standards and practices for at least thirty (30) days prior to rendering a decision to approve, approve with modifications, or deny the standards and practices, which shall be issued in writing within ninety (90) days of receipt.

(2) If modifications are specified in the divisions decision, the electric distribution company shall file revised vegetation management standards and practices for review and approval within sixty (60) days of receipt of a written decision.

(g)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or ordinance, upon approval by the division, the electric distribution company shall be authorized to implement its vegetation management standards and practices across its service territory.

(2) Except for any permits required pursuant to § 2-1-18 et seq. or any rules or regulations promulgated by the department of environmental management, and notwithstanding the notice provisions described in subsection (b)(2) of this section, state and local permits, licenses, assents, variances, or any other form of authorizations or approvals shall not be required for vegetation management activities that are part of vegetation management standards and practices approved by the division pursuant to this chapter.

(3) The electric distribution company shall comply with all municipal ordinances including, but not limited to, ordinances concerning public safety, roadway access, and scheduling, when implementing its vegetation management standards and practices, except that a municipal ordinance shall not deny the companys right to trim or otherwise compel the company to apply a vegetation management standard that deviates from that approved by the division pursuant to this chapter. The electric distribution company shall give consideration to municipal ordinances concerning local vegetation, where they exist.

(h) Pursuant to the requirements of § 39-1-27.7.1, the electric distribution company shall be permitted to seek recovery of all reasonable costs incurred under this section, inclusive of those reasonable costs incurred by the division. The division is authorized to assess the electric distribution companys reasonable costs to employ on a contract basis any utility and/or vegetation management experts, including, but not limited to, certified arborists, foresters, and horticulturalists. The electric distribution company shall be entitled to recovery of those assessed costs through its annual infrastructure, safety, and reliability spending plan, or such other rate recovery mechanism the public utility commission deems appropriate. Nothing in this section shall be construed to derogate from the statutory authority of the public utility commission to establish budget limits and to set just and reasonable rates or the division from advocating a position in public utility commission proceedings, including annual filings made under § 39-1-27.7.1 for implementation of vegetation management and the associated budget that is different from that which is filed by the electric distribution company. The public utility commission may consider the reasonableness of the pace of expenditures from year to year and the chapter impacts resulting from the proposals for cost recovery.

(i) The electric distribution company shall file updated vegetation management standards and practices with the division at least once every four (4) years.

(j) Electric distribution customers may contact the electric distribution company if they wish to discuss utility vegetation management activities. If additional information or contact is needed, the electric distribution company shall phone or email the customer within ten (10) business days of receipt of a complaint and work in good faith to reasonably address customer concerns in a manner consistent with its approved vegetation management standards and practices. A customer that is not satisfied with the electric distribution companys response may contact their city or town tree warden, who shall review the matter and work with the electric distribution company to resolve the matter consistent with vegetation management standards approved pursuant to this chapter. To the extent a customer is still not satisfied after discussions with both the electric distribution company and local tree warden, they may register a complaint with the division to resolve any disputed matters in a timely manner.

(k) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the division from promulgating rules and regulations and/or extending the applicability of existing rules and regulations to complaints made under this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-13-3 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-13 / Section 39-13-3
§ 39-13-3. Certificate requirement for jitney operation.
Status: in_force

No person, association, or corporation shall operate a jitney until the owner thereof shall have obtained a certificate from the division specifying the route over which the jitney may operate; the number of passengers it may carry at any one time; the service to be furnished; and that public convenience and necessity require operation over the route. Certificates issued under this chapter shall be renewed before the close of business on December 31 of each calendar year. The renewal fee shall be two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) and shall be submitted with the renewal form. All revenues received under this section shall be deposited as general revenues; provided, however, that this fee shall not apply to any city or town, or any agency or department of any city or town of the state, or any nonprofit jitney service utilized for the transportation of senior citizens.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-1-18 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-1 / Section 39-1-18
§ 39-1-18. Hearings and records  Certified copies.
Status: in_force

(a) All hearings and orders of the commission and of the division, and the records thereof, shall be public and any person shall be permitted to record all or any portion of a hearing by way of camera, video, or tape recorder of any kind, unless a party to the hearing requests, and the chairperson or administrator grants the request, that the recording be prohibited for the protection of attorney-client privilege, confidentiality, or other interest of the parties. All reports, records, files, books, and accounts in the possession of the commission or the division shall be open to inspection by the public at all reasonable times. The division may charge and collect reasonable fees for copies of official documents, orders, papers, and records, and for authenticating or certifying the same; provided that no fee shall be charged for single copies of official documents, orders, papers, and records, furnished to public officers of the state for use in their official capacity, or for the annual reports in the ordinary course of distribution.

(b) All filings made to the division or commission shall also be provided digitally in a manner established by the division. The commission and division may adopt rules exempting filings from this requirement.

(c) In order to support the ability of the public and interested parties to stay informed of the activities of the commission and the division, and to promote awareness of utility restructuring, the division shall maintain a site on the internet through which the public may access:

(1) Notices of and agendas of hearings;

(2) All filings that are available in digital format and that are not subject to protective orders;

(3) All orders, rules, and regulations of the commission or administrator;

(4) Announcements of, agendas for, and minutes of open meetings;

(5) A calendar of all forthcoming open meetings and hearings;

(6) Current tariffs of all public utilities subject to assessment pursuant to § 39-1-23; provided, however, that the division may require any public utility with extensive tariffs to maintain a website and provide access to those tariffs via a link from the divisions website;

(7) A listing of all public utilities and nonregulated power producers, together with consumer contact information for each;

(8) Consumer information on billing dispute resolution, retail access, conservation, and consumer-assistance programs;

(9) Demand-side management programs available to residential, commercial, and industrial customers; and

(10) Other information as the division deems relevant and useful to the public.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-3-34 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-3 / Section 39-3-34
§ 39-3-34. Utilities to which restrictions apply.
Status: in_force

Sections 39-3-15  39-3-33 shall apply only to public utilities as defined in § 39-1-2.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-9-9 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-9 / Section 39-9-9
§ 39-9-9. Fixing of rates for milk.
Status: in_force

On the petition of a person desiring to forward milk over a railroad, the division of public utilities and carriers shall ascertain at what rate facilities for carriage of milk under contract or in large quantities are furnished by the railroad corporation, and shall compare the rate with the tariff for the carriage of milk by the can from and to the same places, including a reasonable compensation for the care of milk by the can; and if the tariff for care and carriage by the can is unreasonably more than the rate for its carriage under contract or in large quantities, the division of public utilities and carriers shall revise the tariff and fix rates therefor fairly proportionate with the contract or large quantity rates, and shall notify the corporation of the revision.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-9-3 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-9 / Section 39-9-3
§ 39-9-3. Railroads as common carriers  Articles transported by connecting lines.
Status: in_force

Every railroad corporation shall be deemed a common carrier; and whenever two (2) or more railroads are connected within this state, the corporation running either of the railroads shall receive articles for transportation to any place on the line of either of the railroads so connected, and shall be liable as common carriers for the delivery of articles at the place. If any corporation shall become liable to pay any sum by reason of the neglect or misconduct of any other corporation, the corporation paying the sum may collect the sum of the corporation by reason of whose neglect or misconduct it became so liable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-12-9 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-12 / Section 39-12-9
§ 39-12-9. Permit requirement for contract carriers  Application.
Status: in_force

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person shall engage in the business of transporting property as a contract carrier by motor vehicle, in intrastate commerce, over the publicly used highways of this state, unless there is in force, with respect to the carrier, a permit issued by the administrator authorizing the person to engage in the business. Every person proposing to operate as a contract carrier shall file with the administrator, in the form to be provided by him or her, an application for a permit, accompanied by a fee of one hundred dollars ($100). All revenues received under this section shall be deposited as general revenues. Each application for the permit shall be made in writing; be verified under oath or written declaration that it is made under penalties of perjury; and shall contain such information as the administrator may require. The administrator shall, within a reasonable time, fix the time and place of the hearing on every application. Notice of the hearing shall be given by publication or by written notice, mailed by the administrator at least ten (10) days before the date fixed therefor, to all common and contract carriers, including railroad companies, if any, serving any part of the route or territory proposed to be served by the applicant; to each person filing with the administrator a written request for the notice; and to any other person who may, in the opinion of the administrator, be interested in or affected by the issuance of the permit. A copy of the notice, including a list of the applications to be heard, shall be publicly posted in the office of the administrator. Any person having an interest in the matter shall have the right, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed therefor by the administrator, to make representations and to introduce evidence in favor of or in opposition to the issuance of the permit.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-16-20 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-16 / Section 39-16-20
§ 39-16-20. Supplementary powers.
Status: in_force

The authority, in addition to any other powers granted in this chapter, has the following powers in order to assist it in setting rates:

(1) To conduct examinations and hearings and to hear testimony and take proof, under oath or affirmation, at public or private hearings, on any matter material for its information and necessary to carry out the terms of this chapter;

(2) To issue subpoenas, necessary to carry out the terms of this chapter, requiring the attendance of witnesses and the production of books and papers pertinent to any hearing before the authority, or before one or more of the members of the authority appointed by it to conduct the hearing; and

(3) To apply to any court, having territorial jurisdiction of the offense, to have punished for contempt any witness who refuses to obey a subpoena, or who refuses to be sworn or affirmed to testify, or who is guilty of any contempt after summons to appear.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-2-9 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-2 / Section 39-2-9
§ 39-2-9. Uniform services and rates of carriers.
Status: in_force

Every common carrier shall receive and transport all goods, wares, and merchandise offered to him or her by any person, as promptly and upon as favorable terms and conditions as the common carrier is receiving and transporting goods, wares, and merchandise at the place in which the same are offered to be delivered to him or her, in the ordinary course of business, for any other person.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-16-1 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-16 / Section 39-16-1
§ 39-16-1. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter the following definitions shall apply:

(1) Authority means the corporation created by § 39-16-3.

(2) Board means the members of the authority.

(3) Bonds means the bonds, notes, or other obligations issued by the authority pursuant to this chapter.

(4) District means the Kent County water district.

(5) Property means any or all of the properties of any water supply and distribution system or part thereof, including plants, works, and instrumentalities, and all properties used or useful in connection therewith, and all parts thereof and all appurtenances thereto, including lands, easements, rights in land and water rights, rights-of-way, contract rights, franchises, approaches, connections, dams, reservoirs, water mains and pipelines, pumping stations and equipment, or any other property incidental to and included in the system or part thereof situated within or without the district.

(6) Treasurer means the treasurer of the authority.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-3-15 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-3 / Section 39-3-15
§ 39-3-15. Security issues for which permission required.
Status: in_force

A public utility, as defined in § 39-1-2, may not, without application to and authority from the division, issue stocks, bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, payable more than twelve (12) months from the date of issue, when necessary for the acquisition of property; the construction, completion, extension, or improvement of its facilities; or for the improvement or maintenance of its service; or for the reorganization or readjustment of its indebtedness and/or capitalization; or for the discharge or lawful refunding of its obligations; or for the reimbursement of money actually expended from income or from any other money in the treasury of the public utility not secured or obtained from the issue of stocks, bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of the public utility.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-13-16 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-13 / Section 39-13-16
§ 39-13-16. Severability.
Status: in_force

Each section of this chapter and every part of each section are hereby declared to be independent sections; and the holding of any section or sections, or part or parts thereof, to be void, ineffective, or unconstitutional for any cause, shall not be deemed to affect any other section or part thereof.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-19-2 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-19 / Section 39-19-2
§ 39-19-2. Subjection to regulation.
Status: in_force

Every company owning or operating a CATV plant in this state is hereby declared to be a communications carrier and, as such, subject to the jurisdiction of and to reasonable rules and regulations as the division may prescribe with reference to the erection and maintenance of distribution facilities and equipment in, under, above, along, across, and upon public highways, bridges, and public places in order to safeguard the safety of the customers and of the public and to preserve the environment and scenic assets of the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-16-3 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-16 / Section 39-16-3
§ 39-16-3. Board created.
Status: in_force

A board to be known as the Kent County Water Authority is hereby created. The powers of the public benefit corporation shall be vested in and exercised by a majority of the members of the board then in office.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-11-20 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-11 / Section 39-11-20
§ 39-11-20. Certification of interstate carrier.
Status: in_force

Within a reasonable time after the filing of an application, the administrator shall issue a certificate to the applicant without a hearing thereon for that portion of the interstate operation that is within this state, upon such terms and conditions as he or she may deem proper and in the public interest, but the terms and conditions shall not conflict with those under which the federal certificate is issued. Any rights conferred upon the holder of any certificate issued under the provisions of §§ 39-11-19  39-11-21 as well as the terms and conditions applicable thereto, shall apply only to intrastate operations performed in conjunction with interstate operations under the federal certificate, and the certificate issued under this section shall not be construed to grant to the holder thereof the right to operate otherwise as an intrastate carrier.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-29-2 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-29 / Section 39-29-2
§ 39-29-2. Authority unaffected.
Status: in_force

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to modify or affect the jurisdiction or authority of the commission or the division over exchange-access rates or the rights or obligations of any carrier pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 251 or 47 U.S.C. § 252. Nor shall this chapter be construed to modify or affect the authority of the commission to designate eligible telecommunications carriers pursuant to federal law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-1-2.1 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-1 / Section 39-1-2.1
§ 39-1-2.1. Presumption of in-state use or intrastate commerce upon use or transportation of liquefied natural gas within the state.
Status: in_force

Whereas it is in the public interest of the state that the personal safety of its inhabitants and visitors be protected, and that property situated within the borders of the state be safeguarded, and whereas it is well known and accepted that the use, storage, transmission, or transportation of liquefied natural gas involves an opportunity for the cause of personal injury or property damage, the general assembly hereby declares that the reasonable exercise of its police power for the safety and welfare of the inhabitants and visitors of the state and for the protection of property located within the state requires the control and regulation of the use, storage, transmission, and transportation of liquefied natural gas. Accordingly, the use, storage, transmission, or transportation of liquefied natural gas within the state shall raise a presumption that the liquefied natural gas is intended for use or consumption within the state or for transmission or transportation from one place to another within the state; and the general laws of the state applicable to public utilities and carriers and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder shall apply thereto; provided, however, (1) That in the safety and security zone for LNG tankers in transit upon the navigable waterways of the state of Rhode Island, established by the United States Coast Guard by 33 C.F.R. § 165.121, and authorized by the United States Code Title 33 Chapter 25 Section 1225, there shall be no:

(1) LNG ships in transit must maintain an exclusion zone of two (2) miles ahead, one mile behind; five hundred (500) yards on either side, and thirty (30) feet overhead clearance within which there shall be no:

(a) Persons;

(b) Piers, wharves, docks, bulkheads, or similar structures within or contiguous to navigable structures;

(c) Waterfront facilities on land located within the state of Rhode Island;

(d) Flammable materials;

(e) Hunting grounds or areas from which an incendiary device could be launched; or

(f) Welding, torch cutting, or other hotwork within such prescribed safety and security zone.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-3-37 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-3 / Section 39-3-37
§ 39-3-37. Public utilities  Informational mailings.
Status: in_force

All public utilities shall include with their mailings to customers any information relating to public utility rates and services as is required from time to time by the commission, which shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the intent of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-7-2 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-7 / Section 39-7-2
§ 39-7-2. Blocking of frogs, switches, and guardrails.
Status: in_force

Every railroad corporation, operating a railroad or part of a railroad in this state, shall adjust, fill, or block the frogs, switches, and guardrails on its track, with the exception of guardrails on bridges, so as to prevent the feet of its employees from being caught therein. The work shall be done to the satisfaction of the division of public utilities and carriers, evidenced by its certificate. Any railroad corporation failing to comply with the provisions of this section shall be fined an amount not less than one hundred dollars ($100) but not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-19-13 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-19 / Section 39-19-13
§ 39-19-13. Payment for services  Late charges.
Status: in_force

No subscriber to a cable television service shall be subject to an assessment of a late fee on a monthly billing unless the payment is at least forty-five (45) days past the close of the billing period that is the subject of the statement. A cable television operator shall not impose a late fee unless the bill contains a clear and conspicuous notice of when the late fee is to be imposed consistent with this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-2-28 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-2 / Section 39-2-28
§ 39-2-28. Levied penalties to be credited back to customers.
Status: in_force

Any penalty levied by the division against an investor-owned electric distribution or natural gas distribution company for any violation of the divisions standards of acceptable performance for emergency preparation and restoration of service for electric and gas distribution companies shall be credited back to the companys customers in a manner determined by the commission.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-10-5 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-10 / Section 39-10-5
§ 39-10-5. Service on attorney.
Status: in_force

Service of process upon an attorney shall be deemed sufficient service upon his or her principals.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-11-27 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-11 / Section 39-11-27
§ 39-11-27. Severability.
Status: in_force

Each section of this chapter and each part of each section is hereby declared to be an independent section, and the holding of any section or sections or part or parts thereof to be void, ineffective, or unconstitutional for any cause shall not be deemed to affect any other section or part thereof.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-23-6 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-23 / Section 39-23-6
§ 39-23-6. Terms of office and officers.
Status: in_force

Of the number of members appointed by the governor originally under this chapter, one-third ( ) shall be appointed for a term of one year; one-third ( ) shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years; and one-third ( ) shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years. Thereafter, vacancies created by expiration of terms shall be filled with appointments for terms of three (3) years. Members whose terms expire may be reappointed to succeed themselves. The committee shall elect from its own membership a chairperson, vice chairperson, and other officers as deemed necessary annually. The committee may appoint such personnel as may be necessary for the efficient performance of the duties prescribed by this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-14-17 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-14 / Section 39-14-17
§ 39-14-17. Display of name of owner  Operator as agent.
Status: in_force

The full name of the owner of every taxicab or limited public motor vehicle shall be displayed on each side of the rear doors of the taxicab or limited public motor vehicle in letters at least two inches (2") high and whenever any taxicab or limited public motor vehicle shall be used or operated upon any public highway of this state with the consent of the owner, express or implied, or under any agreement with the owner, express or implied, the operator thereof, if other than the owner, shall, in case of accident, be deemed to be the agent of the owner.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-2-26 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-2 / Section 39-2-26
§ 39-2-26. Emergency response plans.
Status: in_force

Submission, approval, penalties for failure to file, and denial of recovery of service restoration costs for failure to implement emergency response plan.

(a) Each electric distribution company and natural gas distribution company conducting business in the state shall, on or before May 15, 2022, and annually thereafter, submit to the division an emergency response plan for review and approval. The emergency response plan shall be designed for the reasonably prompt restoration of service in the case of an emergency event, which is an event where widespread outages have occurred in the service area of the company due to storms or other causes beyond the control of the company.

(b) After review of an electric distribution or natural gas distribution companys emergency response plan, the division may request that the company amend the plan. The division may open an investigation of the companys plan. If, after hearings, the division finds a material deficiency in the plan, the division may order the company to make such modifications that it deems reasonably necessary to remedy the deficiency.

(c) Any investor-owned electric distribution or natural gas distribution company that fails to file its emergency response plan may be fined five hundred dollars ($500) for each day during which the failure continues. Any fines levied by the division shall be returned to ratepayers through distribution rates in a manner determined by the commission.

(d) Each investor-owned electric distribution or natural gas distribution company, when implementing an emergency response plan, shall designate an employee or employees to remain stationed at the Rhode Island emergency management agencys emergency operations center for the duration of the emergency when the emergency operations center is activated in response to an emergency with an electric or gas service restoration component. In the event of a virtual activation of the emergency activation center, each investor-owned electric and natural gas distribution company shall designate an employee or employees to participate in the virtual activation. The employee or employees shall coordinate communications efforts with designated local and state emergency management officials, as required by this section.

(e) Each investor-owned electric distribution or natural gas distribution company, when implementing an emergency response plan, shall designate an employee or employees to serve as community liaisons for each municipality within their service territory. An investor-owned electric distribution or natural gas distribution company shall provide each community liaison with the necessary feeder map or maps outlining municipal substations and distribution networks and up-to-date customer outage reports at the time of designation as a community liaison. An investor-owned electric distribution or natural gas distribution company shall, at a minimum, provide each community liaison with three (3) customer outage report updates for each twenty-four-hour (24) period, to the liaisons respective city or town. The community liaison shall utilize the maps and outage reports to respond to inquiries from state and local officials and relevant regulatory agencies.

(f) On or before October 1 of each year, every city or town shall notify each investor-owned electric distribution or natural gas distribution company and the Rhode Island emergency management agency of the name of the emergency management official or designee responsible for coordinating the emergency response during storm restoration. If a municipality does not have a designated emergency management official, the chief municipal officer shall designate one public safety official responsible for said emergency response.

(g) Notwithstanding any existing power or authority, the division may open an investigation to review the performance of any investor-owned electric distribution or natural gas distribution company in restoring service during an emergency event. If, after evidentiary hearings or other investigatory proceedings, the division finds that, as a result of the failure of the company to follow its approved emergency response plan, the length of the outages were materially longer than they would have been but for the companys failure, the division shall recommend that the commission enter an order denying the recovery of all, or any part of, the service restoration costs through distribution rates, commensurate with the degree and impact of the service outage.

(h) Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, upon request by the commission, division and any emergency management agency each electric distribution or natural gas distribution company conducting business in the state shall provide periodic reports regarding emergency conditions and restoration performance during an emergency event consistent with orders of the commission and/or division.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-3-27 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-3 / Section 39-3-27
§ 39-3-27. Definitions.
Status: in_force

(a) Affiliate means and includes the following:

(1) Every person owning or holding, directly or indirectly, ten percent (10%) or more of the voting capital stock of a public utility.

(2) Any corporation, voluntary association, or trust, ten percent (10%) or more of the voting capital stock of which is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by a person owning or controlling directly or indirectly ten percent (10%) or more of the voting capital stock of a public utility.

(3) Any person with whom a public utility has a management or service contract or arrangement of the character set forth in § 39-3-28, including contracts for personal services with persons not otherwise affiliated.

(b) Person means and includes individuals, corporations, trustees, lessees, holders of beneficial equitable title, voluntary associations, receivers, and partnerships.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-12-32 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-12 / Section 39-12-32
§ 39-12-32. Enforcement powers of inspectors.
Status: in_force

Examiners, field investigators, hearing officers, regulatory inspectors, and other employees of the division designated by the administrator with respect to the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter, shall have and exercise, throughout this state, all powers of police officers, including the power to arrest, without warrant, any person who violates any provision of this chapter, and the agents may serve all process lawfully issued by the administrator. Whenever a complaint is made of any violation of the provisions of this chapter by any examiner, field investigator, hearing officer, regulatory inspector, or any other employee of the division designated by the administrator to enforce the provisions of this chapter, he or she shall not be required to furnish surety for costs or be liable for costs upon any complaint.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-17-3 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-17 / Section 39-17-3
§ 39-17-3. Franchise tax payable to city or town.
Status: in_force

Every corporation that shall accept exclusive rights or franchises granted by ordinance or contract under the provisions of this chapter, shall make and render to the treasurer of the town or city granting the same, on or before the thirtieth day of January, April, July, and October in every year, returns, verified by the oath of its president or treasurer, of the gross earnings of the corporation within the town or city for the period of three (3) months next preceding the first day of January, April, July, and October in the same year, and shall at the time pay to the town or city treasurer, in full payment for the rights and franchises granted under this chapter, a special tax upon the gross earnings at a rate not exceeding three percent (3%) upon the gross earnings of the corporation within the town or city in that year.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-1-61 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-1 / Section 39-1-61
§ 39-1-61. Rhode Island telecommunications education access fund.
Status: in_force

(a) Preamble. For the past ten (10) years, the schools and libraries of Rhode Island have benefited from a regulatory agreement with Verizon and its predecessor companies that has provided up to two million dollars ($2,000,000) annually for support of telecommunications lines for internet access. In addition, the funds provided for in the original regulatory agreement and every dollar generated hereunder leverages a one dollar and twenty-seven cents ($1.27) federal E-Rate match. With the regulatory agreement approaching its termination and the advent of more advanced technologies, it is the intent of this section to provide a continued source of funding for internet access for eligible public and private schools and libraries.

(b) Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) Department means the Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary education.

(2) Division means the division of public utilities and carriers.

(3) Telecommunications education access fund means the programs and funding made available to qualified libraries and schools to assist in paying the costs of acquiring, installing, and using telecommunications technologies to access the internet.

(c) Purpose. The purpose of the telecommunications education access fund shall be to fund a basic level of internet connectivity for all of the qualified schools (kindergarten through grade 12) and libraries in the state.

(d) Authority. The division shall establish, by rule or regulation, an appropriate funding mechanism to recover from the general body of ratepayers the costs of providing telecommunications technology to access the internet.

(1) The general assembly shall determine the amount of a monthly surcharge to be levied upon each residence and business telephone access line or trunk in the state, including PBX trunks and centrex equivalent trunks and each service line or trunk, and upon each user interface number or extension number or similarly identifiable line, trunk, or path to or from a digital network. The department will provide the general assembly with information and recommendations regarding the necessary level of funding to effectuate the purposes of this section. The surcharge shall be billed by each telecommunications services provider and shall be payable to the telecommunications services provider by the subscriber of the telecommunications services. State, local, and quasi-governmental agencies shall be exempt from the surcharge. The surcharge shall be deposited in a restricted-receipt account, hereby created within the department of elementary and secondary education and known as the telecommunications education access fund, to pay any and all costs associated with subsection (b)(3). The amount of the surcharge shall not exceed thirty-five cents ($.35) per access line or trunk.

(2) The surcharge is hereby determined to be twenty-six cents ($.26) per access line or trunk.

(3) The amount of the surcharge shall not be subject to the sales and use tax imposed under chapter 18 of title 44 nor be included within the gross earnings of the telecommunications corporation providing telecommunications service for the purpose of computing the tax under chapter 13 of title 44.

(e) Administration. The division, with input from the department, shall administer the telecommunications education access fund consistent with the requirements of the Universal Service (E-Rate) program. The division of taxation shall collect from the telecommunications service providers the amounts of the surcharge collected from their subscribers. The department, with the approval of the division, shall publish requests for proposals that do not favor any particular technology, evaluate competitive bids, and select products and services that best serve the internet access needs of schools and libraries. In doing so, the department shall endeavor to obtain all available E-Rate matching funds. The department is further authorized and encouraged to seek matching funds from all local, state, and federal public or private entities. The department shall approve disbursement of funds under this section in accordance with the divisions directives. Unsuccessful bids may be appealed to the division. The division shall annually review the departments disbursements from this account to ensure that the departments decisions do not favor any competitor.

(f) Eligibility. All schools seeking support from the fund must be eligible for Universal Service (E-Rate) support and meet the definition of elementary school or secondary school in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. § 8801). Schools operating as a for-profit business or with endowments exceeding fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) are not eligible for support. All libraries seeking support from the fund must meet the definition of library or library consortium in the Library Services and Technology Act, Pub. L. No. 104-208, § 211 et seq., 110 Stat. 3009 (1996) and must be eligible for assistance from a state library administrative agency under that act. Only libraries that have budgets that are completely separate from any schools (including, but not limited to, elementary and secondary, colleges and universities) shall be eligible to receive support. Libraries operating as a for-profit business shall not be eligible for support.

(g) Effective date. The effective date of assessment for the telecommunications education access fund shall be January 1, 2004.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-25-1 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-25 / Section 39-25-1
§ 39-25-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known as the electric transmission siting and regulatory act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-20-2 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-20 / Section 39-20-2
§ 39-20-2. Definitions.
Status: in_force

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the following words shall have the following meanings:

(1) Commission means the public utilities commission.

(2) Division means the division of public utilities and carriers.

(3) Domestic electric utility means an electric utility organized under the laws of, or having its principal place of business in, this state.

(4) Electric-generating facilities means electric-generating units rated five hundred megawatts (500 MW) or above, and generating stations in commercial generation on or before January 1, 1990, that are subsequently altered or modified to increase the rating of these stations by at least two hundred megawatts (200 MW), and related facilities including those for the transmission of the capacity and related energy from these units or stations.

(5) Electric utility means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, or entity, or subdivision thereof, private, governmental, or other, wherever resident or organized, primarily engaged in the generation and sale or purchase and sale of electricity, or the transmission thereof, for ultimate consumption by the public.

(6) Foreign electric utility means any electric utility other than a domestic electric utility.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-1-19 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-1 / Section 39-1-19
§ 39-1-19. Personnel  Legal representation.
Status: in_force

(a) To carry out the purposes of this title, the commission and the division, within the appropriation therefor, are authorized to employ such clerks, stenographers, engineers, accountants, and agents as may be required, who shall be in the classified service, and may also retain and employ experts, consultants, and assistants on a contract or other basis for rendering legal, financial, professional, technical, or other assistance or advice.

(b) When requested by the administrator, the attorney general, or an assistant designated by him or her, shall appear and represent the division in any hearing, investigation, action, or proceeding under this title, or in reference to any act or proceeding of the division, and intervene in any action or proceeding in which is involved any question arising under this title. In all cases in which the attorney general or an assistant intervenes on behalf of the state as a customer of a public utility, or on behalf of the citizens of the state, as customers of a public utility, the division may employ legal counsel to represent it, as provided for in § 39-1-20.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-2-27 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-2 / Section 39-2-27
§ 39-2-27. Standards of acceptable performance for emergency preparation and restoration of service.
Status: in_force

The division shall open a docket and establish standards of acceptable performance for emergency preparation and restoration of service for each investor-owned electric and gas distribution company doing business in the state. The division shall levy a penalty not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for each violation for each day that the violation of the divisions standards persists; provided, however, that the maximum penalty shall not exceed seven million five hundred thousand dollars ($7,500,000) for any related series of violations. The division shall open a full investigation, upon its own initiative. Nothing herein shall prohibit any affected city or town from filing a complaint with the division regarding a violation of the divisions standards of acceptable performance by an investor-owned electric distribution or natural gas distribution company; provided, however, that the petition shall be filed with the division no later than ninety (90) days after the violation has been remedied. After an initial review of the complaint, the division shall make a determination as to whether to open a full investigation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-20-10 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-20 / Section 39-20-10
§ 39-20-10. Issuance of securities to finance electric-generating facilities.
Status: in_force

(a) The purposes for which a domestic public utility may issue stocks, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness, payable more than twelve (12) months from date of issue, pursuant to §§ 39-3-15, 39-3-17  39-3-19, and 39-3-21 shall include the acquisition of ownership of, or other interests in, electric-generating facilities, within or without this state, or portions thereof.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 39-3-20, any foreign electric utility, other than a governmental entity, that owns and operates any electric-generating facilities within this state or portions thereof shall be subject to the provisions of §§ 39-3-15, 39-3-17  39-3-19, and § 39-3-21 and other regulatory laws within the state with respect to any financing of the cost of its acquisition of ownership of or other interests in the electric-generating facilities, including the issuance of stocks, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness payable more than twelve (12) months from the date of issue; provided, however, that it shall be exempt from the provisions of this subsection upon the filing with the commission of certification by a regulatory commission of the state of domicile or principal locus of the foreign electric utility, or of the United States, that the regulatory commission has regulatory jurisdiction over the financing of the foreign electric utility.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-14-6 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-14 / Section 39-14-6
§ 39-14-6. Safety and sanitary condition of vehicles  Inspection.
Status: in_force

The division of motor vehicles shall have jurisdiction over the lighting, equipment, safety, and sanitary condition of all taxicabs or limited public motor vehicles, and shall cause an inspection thereof to be made before registering the taxicabs or limited public motor vehicles, and from time to time thereafter, as it shall deem necessary for the convenience, protection, and safety of passengers and of the public. A fee of one dollar ($1.00) shall be paid to the division of motor vehicles for each annual inspection and for each taxicab or limited public motor vehicle operators license hereafter issued by the division.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-1-27.3 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-1 / Section 39-1-27.3
§ 39-1-27.3. Electric distribution companies required to provide retail access, standard offer and last-resort service.
Status: in_force

(a) To promote economic development and the creation and preservation of employment opportunities within the state, each electric distribution company, except Pascoag Utility District and the Block Island Utility District, a quasi-municipal corporation, district, and subdivision of the state (electric distribution company), shall offer retail access from nonregulated power producers to all customers.

(b) Through year 2009, and effective July 1, 2007, through year 2020, each electric distribution company shall arrange for a standard power-supply offer (standard offer) to customers that have not elected to enter into power-supply arrangements with other nonregulated power suppliers. The rates that are charged by the electric distribution company to customers for standard-offer service shall be approved by the commission and shall be designed to recover the electric distribution companys costs and no more than the electric distribution companys costs; provided, that the commission may establish and/or implement a rate that averages the costs over periods of time. The electric distribution company shall not be entitled to recover any profit margin on the sale of standard-offer power, except with approval of the commission as may be necessary to implement, fairly and effectively, system reliability and least-cost procurement. The electric distribution company will be entitled to recover its costs incurred from providing the standard offer arising out of: (1) Wholesale standard-offer supply agreements with power suppliers in effect prior to January 1, 2002; (2) Power-supply arrangements that are approved by the commission after January 1, 2002; (3) Power-supply arrangements made pursuant to §§ 39-1-27.3.1 and 39-1-27.8; and (4) Any other power-supply-related arrangements prudently made after January 1, 2002, to provide standard-offer supply or to mitigate standard-offer supply costs, including costs for system reliability, procurement, and least-cost procurement, as provided for in § 39-1-27.7. Subject to commission approval, the electric distribution company may enter into financial contracts designed to hedge fuel-related or other variable costs associated with power-supply arrangements and the costs of any such financial contracts shall be recoverable in standard-offer rates. The electric distribution companys standard-offer revenues and its standard-offer costs shall be accounted for and reconciled with interest at least annually. Except as otherwise may be directed by the commission in order to accomplish purposes established by law, any over recoveries shall be refunded to customers in a manner directed by the commission, and any under recoveries shall be recovered by the electric distribution company through a uniform adjustment factor approved by the commission. The commission shall have the discretion to apply such adjustment factor in any given instance to all customers or to such specific class of customers that the commission deems equitable under the circumstances provided that the distribution company recovers any under recovery in its entirety. Once a customer has elected to enter into a power-supply arrangement with a nonregulated power producer, the electric distribution company shall not be required to arrange for the standard offer to such customer except as provided in § 39-1-27.3.1. No customer who initially elects the standard offer and then chooses an alternative supplier shall be required to pay any withdrawal fee or penalty to the provider of the standard offer unless such a penalty or withdrawal fee was agreed to as part of a contract; however, no residential customer shall be required to pay a penalty or withdrawal fee for choosing an alternative supplier. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to restrict the right of any nonregulated power producer to offer to sell power to customers at a price comparable to that of the standard offer specified pursuant to this subsection. The electric distribution company may not terminate an existing standard-offer wholesale supply agreement without the written consent of the division.

(c) In recognition that electricity is an essential service, each electric distribution company shall arrange for a last-resort power supply for customers who have left the standard offer for any reason and are not otherwise receiving electric service from nonregulated power producers. The electric distribution company shall procure last-resort service supply from wholesale power suppliers. Prior to acquiring last-resort supply, the electric distribution company will file with the commission a supply acquisition plan or plans that include the acquisition procedure, the pricing options being sought, and a proposed term of service for which last-resort service will be acquired. The term of service may be short- or long-term and acquisitions may occur from time to time and for more than one supplier for segments of last-resort service load over different terms, if appropriate. All the components of the acquisition plans, however, shall be subject to commission review and approval. Once an acquisition plan is approved by the commission, the electric distribution company shall be authorized to acquire last-resort service supply consistent with the approved acquisition plan and recover its costs incurred from providing last-resort service pursuant to the approved acquisition plan. The commission may periodically review the acquisition plan to determine whether it should be prospectively modified due to changed market conditions. The commission shall have the authority and discretion to 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- or long-term optional service at different rates; (2) Term commitments or notice provisions before individual customers leave last-resort service; (3) Last-resort service rates for residential or any other special class of customers that are different than the rates for other last-resort customers; and/or (4) Last-resort service rates that are designed to encourage any class of customers to return to the market. The electric distribution companys last-resort service revenues and its last-resort service costs shall be accounted for and reconciled with interest at least annually. Any over recoveries shall be refunded and any under recoveries shall be recovered by the electric distribution company through a uniform adjustment factor approved by the commission. The commission shall have the discretion to apply such adjustment factor in any given instance to all customers or to such specific class of customers that the commission deems equitable under the circumstances provided that the distribution company recovers any under recovery in its entirety. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an electric distribution company from terminating service provided hereunder in accordance with commission rules and regulations in the event of nonpayment of this service. The commission may promulgate regulations to implement this section including the terms and conditions upon which last-resort service is offered and provided to customers.

(d) If a customer being served by a nonregulated power producer pays any taxes assessed for electric service to the electric distribution company and the electric distribution company forwards such tax payment for the power portion of the bill to a nonregulated power producer for payment by the nonregulated power producer to the state, neither the customer nor the electric distribution company shall be liable for such taxes forwarded if the nonregulated power producer fails to remit such taxes to the state for any reason.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-34-2 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-34 / Section 39-34-2
§ 39-34-2. Definitions.
Status: in_force

When used in this chapter:

(1) Commission means the Rhode Island public utilities commission.

(2) Division means the Rhode Island division of public utilities and carriers.

(3) Right tree, right place program means a set of voluntary recommendations and educational materials for property owners to consider when planting and/or maintaining trees and other vegetation to prevent impacts to the electric distribution system; avoid potentially hazardous conditions; and help reduce the frequency of power outages.

(4) Vegetation management standards and practices means, but is not limited to, a set of utility pruning specifications, standards, and practices related to the care and maintenance of trees, shrubs, and other woody plants located on or near electric distribution system infrastructure, with a purpose to prevent the loss of electric service; strengthen electric distribution system reliability and safety; prevent damage to utility equipment; avoid access impairment; and uphold the intended usage of the facility and/or utility space.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-15-2 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-15 / Section 39-15-2
§ 39-15-2. Payment for property taken.
Status: in_force

Whenever any property or estate or rights of property shall be taken under the provisions of § 39-15-1, the owner thereof, including all persons having property rights therein, shall be paid therefor according to their respective interests, by the town, person, or corporation, taking the property or estate or rights of property.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-12-27 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-12 / Section 39-12-27
§ 39-12-27. Security for protection of the public.
Status: in_force

No certificate or permit shall be issued to a motor carrier or remain in force, unless the carrier shall have furnished the administrator with evidence of insured financial responsibility. Each motor carrier shall satisfy the requirements by furnishing the administrator with proof of the carriers ability to meet any and all legally established claim or claims for damages by reason of personal injury to, or the death of, any one person in an amount of at least two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000), or by reason of personal injuries to, or the death of, all persons injured or killed in any one accident of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) (subject to a maximum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for bodily injuries to or the death of one person), and for damages to property (excluding cargo) in the amount of at least twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). A filing fee of ten dollars ($10.00) must accompany each insurance filing. All revenues received under this section shall be deposited as general revenues. No common or contract carrier by motor vehicle shall engage in intrastate commerce, nor shall any certificate or permit be issued to the carrier or remain in force, unless and until there shall be filed with the administrator evidence of insured financial responsibility by the carriers to meet any and all legally established claim or claims for loss or damage to all property belonging to the shipper or consignee and coming into possession of the carriers in connection with their motor carrier transportation service in an amount of at least twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000); provided, however, that the requirements of this section shall not apply in connection with the transportation of commodities declared by the administrator, after notice and hearing, to be exempt from cargo insurance requirements. Each motor carrier required by the provisions of this chapter to furnish evidence of insured financial responsibility shall satisfy such requirements by filing with the administrator:

(1) A certificate of insurance issued by an insurance company authorized to transact business in this state, showing that the motor carrier has a policy of insurance in force insuring the carrier against public liability, property damage, and damage or loss to cargo, in at least the minimum amounts herein prescribed; or

(2) A certificate on blanks furnished by the administrator and issued by the general treasurer that the motor carrier has filed with the general treasurer a bond in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), issued by a surety company authorized to transact business in Rhode Island and conditioned upon payment of any sum up to and including the maximum amounts required in this section in the satisfaction of any final judgment rendered as the result of any claim, or claims, for damages against the motor carrier. The administrator will give consideration to and will approve the application of a motor carrier to qualify as a self-insurer in lieu of the insurance prescribed in this section, if the carrier furnishes a true and accurate statement of its financial condition and other evidence as will establish to the satisfaction of the administrator the ability of the motor carrier to satisfy its obligations for liability and bodily injury or death and liability for the property damage in the minimum amounts prescribed therein without affecting the stability or permanency of the business of the motor carriers. All certificates of insurance, surety bonds, and other securities and agreements filed with the administrator must show the coverage effective continuously until canceled. Certificates of insurance, surety bonds, and other securities and agreements shall not be canceled or withdrawn until after thirty (30) days notice in writing by the insurance company, surety or sureties, motor carrier, or other party thereto, as the case may be, has first been given to the administrator at his or her office in Providence, which period of time shall commence to run from the date the notice is actually received at the office of the administrator. However, the surety bonds, certificates of insurance, and other securities and agreements may be canceled prior to the expiration of the thirty (30) days, if on or before the date notice of cancellation is received at the office of the administrator, a replacement filing acceptable to the administrator shall have been received, the replacement being effective on or before the effective date of the cancellation. No cancellation may become effective before the date of receipt of the notice by the administrator.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-31-7 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-31 / Section 39-31-7
§ 39-31-7. Duties of the commission.
Status: in_force

(a) The commission shall approve any proposals made by the electric or gas distribution company that are commercially reasonable and advance the purposes of this chapter. The commissions authority shall include, without limitation, the authority to:

(1) Approve long-term contracts entered into pursuant to the goals and provisions of this chapter for large-scale hydroelectric power, nuclear power and renewable energy resources, as defined by § 39-26-5(a);

(2) Approve long-term contracts for natural-gas-pipeline infrastructure and capacity consistent with the purposes of this chapter;

(3) Approve rate-recovery mechanisms proposed by the electric and gas distribution companies relating to costs incurred under this chapter by the electric and gas distribution company that facilitate the multistate or regional sharing of costs necessary to implement electric transmission and natural-gas-pipeline infrastructure projects pursued under this chapter, including any costs incurred through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved tariffs related to such multistate or regional energy infrastructure procurements;

(4) Address any proposed changes to standard-offer procurements, standard-offer pricing, and retail-choice rules;

(5) Provide for the recovery of reasonable net costs from all distribution customers incurred by the electric and gas distribution company in furtherance of the purposes of this chapter that may include, but are not limited to, costs to solicit, evaluate, and seek approval of such contracts as well as net costs incurred under any contracts approved by the commission under this section and costs associated with the management of incremental capacity resulting from interstate gas-pipeline-expansion projects pursued pursuant to this chapter and costs associated with investments in local gas-distribution-network assets necessary to implement such interstate gas-pipeline-expansion projects;

(6) Nothing herein is intended to prohibit the commission from allowing the electric distribution company to use the energy, capacity, and other attributes purchased for resale to customers and approve tariffs that charge those customers for the energy, capacity, and other attributes from the resale to those customers; and/or to use the NE-GIS certificates for purposes of meeting the obligations set forth in chapter 26 of this title (renewable energy standard);

(7) Approve cost allocation proposals filed by the gas distribution company and/or the electric distribution company that appropriately allocate offshore wind costs incurred under § 39-31-10, natural gas infrastructure and capacity costs incurred under § 39-31-6 between electric and gas distribution customers of the electric and gas distribution company in a manner proportional to the energy benefits accrued by Rhode Islands gas and electric customers from making such investments. In making its determination, the commission shall consider projected reductions in regional, wholesale electric prices as a benefit that accrues to electric ratepayers. The allocation of costs shall include all distribution customers, regardless from whom they are purchasing their commodity service; and

(8) Approve any other proposed regulatory or ratemaking changes that reasonably advance the goals set forth herein.

(b) The grant of authorizations under this chapter shall not be construed as creating a mandate or obligation on the part of the electric and gas distribution company to enter into any contracts or file any proposals pursuant to this chapter.

(c) The public utilities commission shall docket any proposals made by the office of energy resources and division of public utilities and carriers pursuant to § 39-31-4. Docket materials shall be posted and maintained on the commissions website. The commission shall conduct proceedings, as provided below, solely for the purpose of determining whether the proposed infrastructure projects, if implemented, are in the public interest and no commitments shall be valid or authorized without such finding being made by the commission. The validity and approval of any commitments made by the electric or gas distribution company in furtherance of the purposes of this chapter shall be separate and subject to § 39-31-5. The docket opened pursuant to this subsection shall proceed as follows:

(1) The following state agencies shall provide advisory opinions to the commission on the topics specified below within sixty (60) days from the docketing date:

(i) The department of environmental management (DEM) shall provide an advisory opinion on the expected greenhouse gas emissions and statewide environmental impacts resulting from the proposed project(s), including a determination as to whether the proposed project(s) advance the goals of chapter 6.2 of title 42 (the 2021 Act on Climate).

(ii) The commerce corporation shall provide an advisory opinion on the expected statewide economic impacts resulting from the proposed project(s).

(2) The commission shall notify the aforementioned agencies upon the filing of any proposal made under this section, and notify them of any related hearings and/or proceedings.

(3) Advisory opinions issued by agencies designated under subsection (c)(1) of this section shall not be considered as final decisions of the agencies making the opinions and shall not be subject to judicial review under § 42-35-15 or any other provision of the general laws.

(4) Upon completion of the sixty-day (60) advisory-opinion period, the commission shall provide for a thirty-day (30) public comment period on any energy infrastructure project(s) selected pursuant to this chapter and hold evidentiary hearings. In addition to evidentiary hearings, the commission shall also hold at least one public hearing to accept public comment on the proposal(s) prior to an open meeting held pursuant to this section.

(5) The commission shall hold an open meeting no later than one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of filing by the office of energy resources and division of public utilities and carriers and shall certify that the proposed project(s) are in the public interest if, in the commissions determination, and in consideration of filed advisory opinions and the opinion of the electric or gas distribution utility, the proposed infrastructure project(s):

(i) Are consistent with the findings and purposes of this chapter;

(ii) Will benefit Rhode Island by improving local and regional energy system reliability and security;

(iii) Will benefit Rhode Island ratepayers by offering the potential for reduced energy price volatility and reduction of energy supply costs in the context of an integrated regional energy system;

(iv) Will not cause unacceptable harm to the environment and are consistent with the greenhouse gas reduction goals established in chapter 6.2 of title 42 (the 2021 Act on Climate); and

(v) Will enhance the economic fabric of the state.

(6) The commission shall issue a written determination of its findings within ten (10) business days of its open-meeting decision and provide copies of that determination, along with copies of all advisory opinions, public comment, and any other materials deemed relevant to the commission determination, to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house, the commissioner of the office of energy resources, and the administrator of the division of public utilities and carriers.

(d) A determination issued by the commission shall constitute the sole, final, binding, and determinative regulatory decision within the state for the purpose of authorizing the state to support a proposed, regional energy-infrastructure project(s) that is funded through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved tariffs on a regional and/or multistate basis pursuant to this chapter. Appeals shall be governed by § 39-5-1.

(e) Upon issuance of a written determination by the commission finding that the proposed project(s) is in the public interest, the office of energy resources and division of public utilities and carriers shall, on behalf of the state, be authorized to support any state, regional, and/or multistate process necessary to implement the project(s), including, without limitation, supporting any necessary and related Federal Energy Regulatory Commission filings; provided, however, that any commitments made by the electric or gas distribution company to implement the proposals remain voluntary and subject to § 39-31-5.

(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude the electric or gas distribution company from making a filing under § 39-31-6, simultaneous with a filing under this section by the office of energy resources and the division of public utilities and carriers, in which case the filings made under §§ 39-31-6 and 39-31-7 shall be consolidated.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-3-10 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-3 / Section 39-3-10
§ 39-3-10. Filing and availability of rate schedules.
Status: in_force

(a) Every public utility shall file with the public utilities administrator, within a time to be fixed by the administrator, schedules that shall be open to public inspection, showing all rates, tolls, and charges it has established and that are in force at the time for any service performed by it within the state, or for any service in connection therewith or performed by any public utility controlled or operated by it. A copy of so much of the schedules as the administrator shall deem necessary for the use of the public shall be printed in plain type, or typewritten, and kept on file in every station or office of the public utility where payments are made by the consumers or users, open to the public in such form and place as to be readily accessible and conveniently inspected, and as the administrator may order. The administrator may determine and prescribe the form in which the schedules, required by this section to be kept open to the public inspection, shall be prepared and arranged, provided, that with respect to public utilities subject to the federal Interstate Commerce Act, 49 U.S.C. § 501 et seq., so-called, the form of the schedules shall be that as from time to time prescribed by the Interstate Commerce Commission.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) herein, a public utility may post on its website the rates, tolls, and charges of any retail telecommunications service performed by it within the state for any business customers. Subsection (a) herein shall not apply to any service so posted, and such public utility shall not be required to file with the public utilities administrator or publish any schedule or tariff for such service. Upon written notice to the public utilities administrator, the public utility may withdraw any schedule or tariff previously filed with the administrator for any service so posted.

(c) Nothing in subsection (b) herein or in § 39-2-5(12) shall derogate from the statutory authority of the commission or of the division, including, but not limited to, the authority to protect ratepayers from unreasonable rates. Nor shall anything in subsection (b) herein or in § 39-2-5(12) derogate from the common law or statutory authority of the attorney general, including, but not limited to, the authority to enforce consumer protection or unfair or deceptive trade practice statutes and regulations.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-16-16 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-16 / Section 39-16-16
§ 39-16-16. Bonds as legal investments.
Status: in_force

The bonds are hereby made securities in which all public officers and bodies of this state and all municipalities and municipal subdivisions; all insurance companies and associations and other persons carrying on an insurance business; all banks, bankers, trust companies, savings banks, and savings associations, including savings and loan associations, building and loan associations, investment companies and other persons carrying on a banking business; all administrators, guardians, executors, trustees, and other fiduciaries; and all other persons, whomsoever, who are now or may hereafter be authorized to invest in bonds or other obligations of the state, may properly and legally invest funds including capital in their control or belonging to them. The bonds are also hereby made securities that may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of this state, and all municipalities and municipal subdivisions, for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or other obligations of this state is now or may hereafter be authorized.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-11-8 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-11 / Section 39-11-8
§ 39-11-8. Issuance of certificate  Proof required.
Status: in_force

The administrator may issue a certificate granting the application in whole or in part and may impose such terms and conditions as he or she may deem proper in the public interest. The applicant for the certificate shall be entitled to the certificate only upon showing by competent evidence that the public convenience and necessity requires the proposed service or operation and that the applicant is fit, willing, and able to provide the service proposed and found to be required.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-14-15 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-14 / Section 39-14-15
§ 39-14-15. Posting of photograph of operator.
Status: in_force

The operator of every taxicab or limited public motor vehicle shall have a recent and distinct photograph of himself or herself at least two and one-half inches (2Â½³) wide and four inches (4³) high, together with his or her full name and address, posted in a conspicuous place in the taxicab or limited public motor vehicle operated by him or her.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-3-32 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-3 / Section 39-3-32
§ 39-3-32. Disallowance of payments to affiliates in rate proceedings.
Status: in_force

In any proceeding, whether upon the divisions own motion or upon complaint, involving the rates or practices of any public utility, the division may disallow the inclusion in the accounts of a public utility of any payments or compensation to an affiliate for any services rendered, or property furnished, under existing contracts or arrangements with an affiliate unless the public utility shall establish the reasonableness of the payment or compensation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-1-27.10 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-1 / Section 39-1-27.10
§ 39-1-27.10. Electric and gas distribution companies required to file affordable energy plans.
Status: repealed

(a) On or before January 2, 2007, each gas and electric distribution company shall submit to the commission a plan for affordable energy for low-income households, including very low-income households as defined in § 42-141-2 [repealed]. The plan shall provide for the implementation of the affordable energy fund and shall include provisions for discounted distribution rates and customer charges; payments on arrearages and unpaid balances by low-income households; and energy efficiency and weatherization, to the extent that funding is allocated by the commissioner pursuant to § 42-141-5(d) [repealed]. Any amendments or revisions to the plan after December 1, 2007, shall provide for referral of eligible households, as appropriate, to community action agencies or other entities designated by the office of energy resources for weatherization assistance.

(b) On or before April 30, 2007, the commission shall review the plan and issue an order with regard to the plan not later than May 31, 2007. The order shall be effective not later than November 1, 2007. The commission shall cause a review, and as appropriate an amendment, of the plan at least every three (3) years between July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2016.

(c) On or before November 1, 2007, each gas and electric distribution company shall implement an affordable energy plan in accordance with the order of the commission.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-11-15 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-11 / Section 39-11-15
§ 39-11-15. Authority for abandonment or suspension of service.
Status: in_force

No air carrier shall abandon any route or part thereof for which a certificate has been issued by the administrator unless, upon the application of the air carrier and after notice and a hearing by the administrator, he or she shall find abandonment to be in the public interest. Any interested person may appear and be heard in opposition or in support of any abandonment. The administrator may, by regulation or otherwise, authorize such temporary suspension of service as may be in the public interest.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-21-13 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-21 / Section 39-21-13
§ 39-21-13. Division expenses as cost of project.
Status: in_force

The expenses of the division in the performance of its duties under this chapter shall be construed to be costs of operation and maintenance of the project.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-16-19 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-16 / Section 39-16-19
§ 39-16-19. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any section, clause, provision, or term of this chapter shall be declared unconstitutional and ineffective in whole or in part, then to the extent that it is not unconstitutional and ineffective it shall be valid and effective and no other section, clause, provision, or term shall on account thereof be deemed invalid or ineffective.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-1-34 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-1 / Section 39-1-34
§ 39-1-34. Disposition of fees.
Status: in_force

All fees charged and collected by the division shall belong to the state and shall be paid into the state treasury monthly, by the administrator, accompanied by a detailed statement thereof, and become part of the general funds of the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-4-16 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-4 / Section 39-4-16
§ 39-4-16. Service of orders  Effective date.
Status: in_force

The division shall cause a certified copy of all its orders to be served upon an officer or agent of the public utility affected thereby, and upon the complainant if any there be, and all orders shall of their own force take effect and become operative ten (10) days after service thereof unless a different time be fixed by the order.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-11-16 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-11 / Section 39-11-16
§ 39-11-16. Abandonment as ground for revocation.
Status: in_force

Failure to commence operations within the time prescribed in the certificate or order of the administrator, or discontinuance of operations for more than sixty (60) days, shall be deemed just cause for revocation, but shall not be regarded as the sole cause for such action.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-1-15.2 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-1 / Section 39-1-15.2
§ 39-1-15.2. Enforcement by police departments.
Status: in_force

The administrator is hereby authorized to avail himself or herself of state, city, and town police departments as are, or may hereafter be, existing by law, to enforce the provisions of chapters 12 through 14.1 inclusive of this title and the rules, regulations, and orders of the administrator made under the chapters; and the police departments are hereby given the necessary authority and power, in addition to those they now possess, to carry into effect the directions of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-6-11 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-6 / Section 39-6-11
§ 39-6-11. Citations in condemnation matters.
Status: in_force

Upon the application in writing of any railroad company, or of any person whose interest may be affected by the doings of the company, to the superior court for the county in which the estate affected lies, for a hearing and determination of any matter or thing whereof the superior court has jurisdiction and cognizance relative to railroads by virtue of any act of incorporation, or the provisions of § 39-6-13, the clerk shall cause a citation to issue thereon, addressed to the parties named in the application, and made returnable to the superior court in the county, which citation shall be served upon the adverse parties in the same manner as process in a civil action, and, upon the return and entry thereof, the matter shall proceed in all respects as a civil action.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-15-10 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-15 / Section 39-15-10
§ 39-15-10. Amendment of proceedings.
Status: in_force

Any proceeding in taking any property or estate or rights of property, or in claiming damages therefor, or other proceeding under the provisions of this chapter, may at any stage of the proceeding, with the leave of the court, be amended upon such terms and conditions as to the court may appear to be just and proper.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-21-4 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-21 / Section 39-21-4
§ 39-21-4. Advisory commission.
Status: in_force

(a) There shall be an E-911 uniform emergency telephone system advisory commission consisting of fourteen (14) members to be appointed in the following manner: five (5) members shall be the director of the department of health, or his or her designee, the fire marshal, or his or her designee, the colonel of the Rhode Island state police, or his or her designee, the state telecommunications director, or his or her designee, and the administrator of the division of public utilities and carriers, or his or her designee; three (3) members shall be appointed by the speaker of the house: one of whom shall be a member of the house of representatives, and one of whom shall be a representative of the police chiefs association, and one of whom shall be a representative of the telecommunication services provider that is the primary provider to the E-911 PSAP; three (3) members shall be appointed by the president of the senate: one of whom shall be a member of the senate, one of whom shall be a representative of the fire chiefs association, and one of whom shall be a representative of the wireless telecommunication industry; and three (3) members shall be appointed by the governor: two (2) of whom shall be representatives of the public, and one of whom shall be a representative of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns.

(b) Members of the commission shall serve five-year (5) terms, except for ex officio members.

(c) The advisory commission may make such recommendations and give such advice to the executive director of the division as it deems appropriate.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-23-3 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-23 / Section 39-23-3
§ 39-23-3. Reports and recommendations.
Status: in_force

The committee shall, from time to time, and at least annually, report to the general assembly on its findings and the results of its studies, and make such recommendations to the general assembly and propose such legislation or initiate such studies as it shall deem advisable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-13-15 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-13 / Section 39-13-15
§ 39-13-15. Penalty for violations.
Status: in_force

Any person or the officers of any association or corporation, who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter or any order, rule, or regulation adopted or established by the division under the provisions of this chapter, shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100) or imprisoned not more than sixty (60) days, or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-20-1 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-20 / Section 39-20-1
§ 39-20-1. Declaration of public necessity.
Status: in_force

Since reliable and economic bulk electric power supply is essential to the safety, health, morals, and welfare of the state and to the sound growth of the communities therein, and in order to promote the general welfare and insure the future power needs of the inhabitants of this state, it is hereby declared to be in the public interest and for a public purpose:

(1) That electric utilities operating in the New England states be permitted to participate together in the common ownership of electric-generating facilities that will contribute towards a reliable bulk power supply in New England, achieve increased reliability and economies of generation, and thereby promote lower overall cost of power within the state;

(2) That such advantages can be obtained through joint planning, ownership, operation, and use, or any combination thereof, of electric-generating facilities within or without the state for the generation of electricity to be consumed within or without the state;

(3) That domestic electric utilities be authorized and granted rights both within and without the state to participate in the ownership of electric-generating facilities; and

(4) That foreign electric utilities be authorized and granted rights within this state to own or participate in the ownership of electric-generating facilities.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-27-4 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-27 / Section 39-27-4
§ 39-27-4. Scope.
Status: in_force

(a) The provisions of this chapter apply to the following types of new products sold, offered for sale, or installed in the state:

(1) Automatic commercial icemakers;

(2) Commercial clothes washers;

(3) Commercial pre-rinse spray valves;

(4) Commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers;

(5) High-intensity discharge lamp ballasts;

(6) Illuminated exit signs;

(7) Large packaged air-conditioning equipment;

(8) Low-voltage dry-type distribution transformers;

(9) Metal-halide lamp fixtures;

(10) Single-voltage external AC to DC power supplies;

(11) Torchieres;

(12) Traffic signal modules; and

(13) Unit heaters.

(b) The provisions of this chapter also apply to the following types of new products sold, offered for sale, or installed in the state:

(1) Bottle-type water dispensers;

(2) Commercial hot food holding cabinets;

(3) Residential boilers and residential furnaces;

(4) State-regulated incandescent reflector lamps; and

(5) Walk-in refrigerators and walk-in freezers.

(c) The provisions of this chapter do not apply to:

(1) New products manufactured in the state and sold outside the state;

(2) New products manufactured outside the state and sold at wholesale inside the state for final retail sale and installation outside the state;

(3) Products installed in mobile manufactured homes at the time of construction; or

(4) Products designed expressly for installation and use in recreational vehicles.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-17-4 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-17 / Section 39-17-4
§ 39-17-4. Apportionment of gross earnings among cities and towns.
Status: in_force

In case any corporation shall do business in more than one town or city, and it shall be unable to ascertain the amount of its gross earnings in each town or city separately from actual accounts kept thereof, its returns of gross earnings to be made as provided in § 39-17-3 shall state the gross earnings of its entire business and the length of its wires, pipes, mains, or tracks in the streets and highways of each town or city, and the gross earnings from its business in the town or city shall be taken to be that proportion of the whole gross earnings that the length of its wires, pipes, mains, or tracks in the streets and highways of the city or town bears to the total length of all its wires, pipes, mains, or tracks in streets and highways.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-25-2 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-25 / Section 39-25-2
§ 39-25-2. Statement of policy and purpose.
Status: in_force

The general assembly finds and hereby declares the following:

(1) The citizens of the state whose homes are in close proximity to proposed high-voltage lines have expressed concern about the possible harmful effect of electromagnetic fields that emanate from the electrical utilities facilities;

(2) There have been a number of scientific studies that purport to suggest that the electromagnetic fields associated with electrical utility facilities may present a significant health risk;

(3) The issue of the adverse health effects of human exposure to electromagnetic radiation has been the subject of newspaper and scientific journal articles, and although to date no firm data exists indicating at what levels this radiation may pose certain health risks, scientific studies and preliminary evidence warrant an approach of prudent avoidance;

(4) While the general assembly recognizes that at present, research data neither provides a basis for asserting that magnetic fields pose a significant health risk nor does it allow one to categorically assert that there are no risks. Prudence, therefore, suggests caution in dealing with electromagnetic fields and public health issues until further research permits a more conclusive determination.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-11-4 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-11 / Section 39-11-4
§ 39-11-4. Transportation of mail.
Status: in_force

No certificate shall be required for the transportation of United States mail.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-1-27.11 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-1 / Section 39-1-27.11
§ 39-1-27.11. Affordable gas for public housing authorities.
Status: in_force

The commission shall authorize public housing authorities, created pursuant to chapter 25 or 26 of title 45, to participate in business choice programs provided the commission determines that the accounts are billed to and paid by a single housing provider; that the accounts are located on contiguous sites; that other applicable standards for program participation are met; and that such participation is reasonable and prudent.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-18-21 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-18 / Section 39-18-21
§ 39-18-21. Agreements and certifications regarding state and federal funds.
Status: in_force

The authority and the department of transportation shall be authorized and empowered to enter into agreements, between each other and with others, providing for the assignment to the authority of all or part of any grants, loan, or other money or property of whatever nature received, or to be received, by the department; and the department of transportation is hereby authorized and empowered to certify to the authority, or to others, the amount of funds or property from any federal agency or other source received, or to be received, or reasonably expected to be received, or applied for, which funds or property have been or will be or are expected to be assigned to the authority.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-19-5 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-19 / Section 39-19-5
§ 39-19-5. Contents of certificate.
Status: in_force

Each certificate shall specify the service to be rendered, the routes of aerial and underground feeder and distribution cables, the area of operation, and any plans, contracts, or arrangements for pole line attachments with a public utility or arrangements with a common carrier, and other appropriate feasibility plans.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-31-3 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-31 / Section 39-31-3
§ 39-31-3. Commercially reasonable defined.
Status: in_force

When used in this chapter, commercially reasonable means terms and pricing that are reasonably consistent with what an experienced power market analyst would expect to see in transactions involving regional energy resources and regional energy infrastructure. Commercially reasonable shall include having a credible project operation date, as determined by the commission, but a project need not have completed the requisite permitting process to be considered commercially reasonable. Commercially reasonable shall require a determination by the commission that the benefits to Rhode Island exceed the cost of the project. The commission shall determine, based on the preponderance of the evidence, that the total energy security, reliability, environmental, and economic benefits to the state of Rhode Island and its ratepayers exceed the costs of such projects. If there is a dispute about whether any terms or pricing are commercially reasonable, the commission shall make the final determination after evidentiary hearings.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-16-5 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-16 / Section 39-16-5
§ 39-16-5. Officers and employees of board.
Status: in_force

The chairperson of the board shall be selected by the majority vote of the members of the board. The board shall appoint a secretary and a treasurer, who may or may not be a member of the board, and other employees as may be necessary in its judgment, and fix their compensation. The board may provide, in the fixing of compensation, for a retirement program, commonly known as a pension plan, funded by individual or group insurance or annuity contracts or otherwise, for health and accident insurance, for life insurance, for hospital service commonly known as blue cross, and for physicians service for any one or more or all of its employees; and the board is hereby authorized to expend the moneys of the authority for purposes and programs as it may deem advisable. These programs and purposes may be financed in full or in part by the moneys of the authority.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-9-6 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-9 / Section 39-9-6
§ 39-9-6. Determination of terms for services and facilities to other railroads.
Status: in_force

If the corporations cannot agree upon the stated periods at which the cars shall be so drawn, and the compensation to be paid therefor, or cannot agree upon the terms and conditions upon which accommodations shall be furnished for passengers and merchandise, the supreme court, upon application by either party, shall appoint three (3) commissioners, who, after due notice to and hearing the parties interested, shall determine, having reference to the convenience and interest of the corporations and of the public to be accommodated thereby, the stated periods for drawing cars, and compensation therefor, or the terms and conditions for passengers and merchandise, or the requisite terminal accommodations and manner of transferring passengers and freight, as aforesaid; and upon the application of either party, shall determine all questions between them in relation to the transportation of freight and passengers and other business upon and connected with the roads in which they are jointly interested, and the manner in which the business shall be done; and shall apportion to the corporations their respective shares of the expenses, receipts, and income of the same; and the award of the commissioners or a majority of them, when approved by the court, shall be binding upon the respective corporations interested therein for one year and until commissioners appointed in like manner, upon application of either party, shall revise and alter the award.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-3-3 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-3 / Section 39-3-3
§ 39-3-3. Certificate requirement for water carriers.
Status: in_force

(a) No common carrier of persons and/or property operating upon water between termini within this state shall hereafter furnish or sell its services unless the common carrier shall first have made application to and obtained a certificate from the division certifying that public convenience and necessity required the services. A filing fee of one hundred dollars ($100) must accompany all filings made pursuant to this section. Certificates issued under this section shall be renewed before the close of business on December 31 of each calendar year. The renewal fee shall be one hundred dollars ($100) and shall be submitted with the renewal form. All revenues received under this section shall be deposited as general revenues; provided, however, that this fee shall not apply to any city or town, to any agency or department of any city or town of the state, or to any nonprofit corporation in the tourism industry.

(b) A copy of any application filed with either the commission or the division by a water common carrier that includes a New Shoreham terminus shall be provided by the water common carrier to the New Shoreham town clerk by certified mail.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision of §§ 39-5-1 and/or 42-35-15, or any other provision of the general or public laws to the contrary, no agency nor reviewing court may order an interlocutory stay of any order of the division with respect to an application entered under § 39-3-3.1, and/or certificate under § 39-3-3.1. Nothing herein shall be construed to limit the right of any petitioner, public utility, party in interest, or other person or entity aggrieved by an order of the division entered under § 39-3-3.1, from seeking judicial review in accordance with §§ 39-5-1 and/or 42-35-15.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-3-37.3 — RI Code / Title 39 / Chapter 39-3 / Section 39-3-37.3
§ 39-3-37.3. Informational notice on electric bills  Electric distribution company.
Status: in_force

(a) Every electric distribution company that shall charge for the distribution of electricity to any house, building, tenement, or estate shall conspicuously display upon the bill or statement for any customer the following information:

(1) The total number of kilowatt hours consumed;

(2) The total cost of distributing the consumer power to the customer;

(3) Transition charges;

(4) Conservation costs;

(5) The total cost of transmitting the consumed power to the appropriate distribution site;

(6) All applicable credits;

(7) Applicable streetlight rental costs;

(8) Applicable taxes;

(9) The cost of power delivered; and

(10) All other costs, charges, or fees added to the bill or statement.

(b) The electric distribution company shall issue a single bill for electric service to all customers in its service territory; provided however, that customers of nonregulated power producers may request that the nonregulated power producers provide separate bills for electricity supply.