reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 39-2-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-2 - Rate discrimination.

§ 39-2-2. Rate discrimination.(a) If any public utility or any agent or officer of a public utility, as defined in chapter 1 of this title, shall directly or indirectly, by any device whatsoever, or otherwise, charge, demand, collect, or receive from any person, firm, or corporation a greater or less compensation for any service rendered or to be rendered by it, in, or affecting, or relating to the transportation of persons or property between points within this state, the distribution of electricity, or the production, transmission, delivery, or furnishing of heat, or water, or the conveyance of telegraph or telephone messages, or for any service in connection therewith, than that prescribed in the published schedules or tariffs then in force or established as provided herein, or than it charges, demands, collects, or receives from any other person, firm, or corporation for a like and contemporaneous service, under substantially similar circumstances and conditions, the public utility shall be guilty of unjust discrimination which is hereby prohibited and declared to be unlawful and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each offense; and the agent or officer so offending shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each offense.(b) 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 any elderly person as defined by the division.History of Section.P.L. 1912, ch. 795, § 39; G.L. 1923, ch. 253, § 39; G.L. 1938, ch. 122, § 36; G.L. 1956, § 39-22; P.L. 1971, ch. 256, § 1; P.L. 1971, ch. 265, § 3; P.L. 1972, ch. 205, § 3; P.L. 1996, ch. 316, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-2-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-3 - Unreasonable preferences or prejudices.

§ 39-2-3. Unreasonable preferences or prejudices.(a) If any public utility shall make or give any undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to any particular person, firm, or corporation, or shall subject any particular person, firm, or corporation to any undue or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage in any respect whatsoever, the public utility shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each offense.(b) 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.History of Section.P.L. 1912, ch. 795, § 40; G.L. 1923, ch. 253, § 40; G.L. 1938, ch. 122, § 37; G.L. 1956, § 39-2-3; P.L. 1971, ch. 256, § 2.
RI Gen L § 39-2-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-4 - Acceptance of unlawful rebates or advantages.

§ 39-2-4. Acceptance of unlawful rebates or advantages.It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation knowingly to solicit, accept, or receive any rebate, concession, or discrimination in respect to any service in, affecting, or relating to the transportation of persons or property, or affecting or relating to the distribution of electricity, or the production, transmission, delivery, or furnishing of heat or water, or the conveyance of telephone or telegraph messages within this state, or for any service in connection therewith, whereby the service shall, by any device whatsoever or otherwise, be rendered free, or at a less rate than that named in the published schedules and tariffs in force, as provided therein, or whereby any service or advantage is received other than is herein specified. Any person, firm, or corporation violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each offense.History of Section.P.L. 1912, ch. 795, § 41; G.L. 1923, ch. 253, § 41; G.L. 1938, ch. 122, § 38; G.L. 1956, § 39-2-4; P.L. 1971, ch. 265, § 4; P.L. 1972, ch. 205, § 4; P.L. 1996, ch. 316, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-2-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-6 - Repair and construction of highway bridges used by street railways.

§ 39-2-6. Repair and construction of highway bridges used by street railways.Whenever any highway bridge over which a street railway is operated shall become unsafe for public travel, the public utility operating the railway shall pay the whole expense of repairing, strengthening, or reconstructing the bridge, if the bridge would be safe for public travel if the railway were not operated over it; but, if a reconstruction of the bridge or the construction of a new bridge is required for any other cause, or if the bridge would be unsafe for public travel if the railway were not operated over it, then so much of the expense of repairing, strengthening, constructing, or reconstructing the bridge as may be equitable shall be paid by the public utility operating the railway. In the event of any disagreement between the public utility and the town or city bound by law to maintain the bridge, as to the necessity of any repair or reconstruction thereof, or as to the character of the repair or reconstruction, or as to the apportionment of the expense of the repair or reconstruction, the commission, upon application of any party in interest, and after due hearing, shall make such orders as it shall deem necessary, in the interest of public safety, for the repair, strengthening, or reconstruction of the bridge, and shall determine in accordance with the principle herein stated, the portion of the expense of the repair, strengthening, or reconstruction that shall be borne by the public utility.History of Section.P.L. 1912, ch. 795, § 53; G.L. 1923, ch. 253, § 52; G.L. 1938, ch. 122, § 49; G.L. 1956, § 39-2-6; P.L. 1969, ch. 240, § 2.
RI Gen L § 39-2-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-7 - Civil liability for violations - Limitation of actions.

§ 39-2-7. Civil liability for violations — Limitation of actions.If any public utility shall do, or cause to be done, or permit to be done, any matter, act, or thing in chapters 1 — 5 of this title prohibited or declared to be unlawful, or shall omit to do any act, matter, or thing to be done by it, the public utility shall be liable to the person, firm, or corporation injured thereby, in a civil action to be brought within three (3) years from the time the cause of action accrues, and not after, for the amount of damage sustained in consequence of the violation; provided, that any recovery as provided in this section, shall in no manner affect the recovery by the state of the penalty prescribed for the violation.History of Section.P.L. 1912, ch. 795, § 43; G.L. 1923, ch. 253, § 43; G.L. 1938, ch. 122, § 40; G.L. 1956, § 39-2-7.
RI Gen L § 39-2-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-8 - Penalty for violations.

§ 39-2-8. Penalty for violations.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 one thousand dollars ($1,000), 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.History of Section.P.L. 1912, ch. 795, § 56; G.L. 1923, ch. 253, § 55; G.L. 1938, ch. 122, § 52; G.L. 1956, § 39-2-8; P.L. 1973, ch. 199, § 2.
RI Gen L § 39-2-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-9 - Uniform services and rates of carriers.

§ 39-2-9. Uniform services and rates of carriers.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.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 161, § 1; G.L. 1909, ch. 190, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 218, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 123, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 39-2-9.
RI Gen L § 39-2-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-10 - Injunction or mandamus.

§ 39-2-10. Injunction or mandamus.The superior court may enforce compliance with the provisions of § 39-2-9 by writ of injunction or mandamus.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 161, § 2; C.P.A. 1905, § 1220; G.L. 1909, ch. 190, § 2; G.L. 1923, ch. 218, § 2; G.L. 1938, ch. 123, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 32-2-10.
RI Gen L § 39-2-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-11 - Penalty for refusal of carrier to receive and transport.

§ 39-2-11. Penalty for refusal of carrier to receive and transport.Every common carrier who shall refuse or neglect to receive and transport goods, wares, and merchandise in the manner as provided in this chapter shall be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500).History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 161, § 3; G.L. 1909, ch. 190, § 3; G.L. 1923, ch. 218, § 3; G.L. 1938, ch. 123, § 3; G.L. 1956, § 39-2-11; P.L. 1997, ch. 326, § 105.
RI Gen L § 39-2-12 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-12 - Civil liability of carrier for refusal.

§ 39-2-12. Civil liability of carrier for refusal.Every common carrier who shall so neglect or refuse shall also be civilly liable to any person aggrieved for any injury sustained by him or her by reason of the carrier's neglect or refusal.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 161, § 4; G.L. 1909, ch. 190, § 4; G.L. 1923, ch. 218, § 4; G.L. 1938, ch. 123, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 39-2-12; P.L. 1997, ch. 326, § 105.
RI Gen L § 39-2-13 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-13 - Admission of guide dogs.

§ 39-2-13. Admission of guide dogs.Any blind or deaf person, who uses the services of a seeing-eye guide dog, or personal-assistance animal or a hearing-ear signal dog, clearly identified as such by a yellow harness and trained by a recognized training agency or school, may enter any public facility of any public utility or common carrier in this state, and when riding on any bus or other public utility or common carrier engaged in the transportation of passengers, or when riding in any elevator in this state where a landlord has the elevator operated for the use of the landlord's tenants and their visitors or while in any building in this state open to the public, may keep the animal in his or her immediate custody; and the person shall not be required to pay any charge or fare, for, or on account of, the transportation thereon of him or herself and any dog so accompanying him or her, in addition to the charge or fare lawfully chargeable for his or her own transportation; provided, however, the provisions of this section shall not apply to railroad sleeping, parlor, club, buffet, or lounge cars.History of Section.P.L. 1938, ch. 2595, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 402, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 39-2-16; G.L. 1956, § 39-2-13; P.L. 1969, ch. 240, § 3; P.L. 1979, ch. 159, § 3; P.L. 1997, ch. 85, § 3; P.L. 2020, ch. 79, art. 1, § 3.
RI Gen L § 39-2-14 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-14 - [Repealed.]

§ 39-2-14. [Repealed.]History of Section.G.L. 1938, ch. 402, § 2; P.L. 1946, ch. 1686, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 39-2-17; P.L. 1969, ch. 240, § 3; P.L. 1979, ch. 159, § 4; Repealed by P.L. 1997, ch. 85, § 3, effective July 2, 1997.
RI Gen L § 39-2-15.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-15.1 - Temporary removal of wires and supporting fixtures by nonprofit housing development corporation.

§ 39-2-15.1. Temporary removal of wires and supporting fixtures by nonprofit housing development corporation.(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.History of Section.P.L. 1988, ch. 580, § 3.
RI Gen L § 39-2-16, 39-2-17 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-16, 39-2-17 - [Renumbered.]

§ 39-2-16. , 39-2-17. [Renumbered.]
RI Gen L § 39-2-18 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-18 - Shutoff devices for gas appliances.

§ 39-2-18. Shutoff devices for gas appliances.No person, firm, corporation, or other business entity shall install in any home or business establishment any appliance that operates by the use of consumption of a combustible gas unless a shutoff device approved by the division of public utilities and carriers controlling the flow of gas into the appliances is also installed in the immediate area of the appliance; and, provided, further, that any person, firm, corporation, or other business entity that removes a valve or leaves a gas line without the shutoff device shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be subject to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100).History of Section.P.L. 1976, ch. 307, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-2-19 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-19 - Display of identification cards required.

§ 39-2-19. Display of identification cards required.Every person employed by a public utility company or nonregulated power producer doing business in this state whose job requires the person to enter homes or business establishments for the purpose of installing, repairing, servicing, meter reading, or other related activities, shall be required to display on the person an identification card bearing the person's photograph during the performance of the person's duties.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 97, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 316, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-2-21 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-21 - Residential condominiums and associations - Charges for services, residential rates.

§ 39-2-21. Residential condominiums and associations — Charges for services, residential rates.Public utilities distributing electricity or providing telephone service, heat, or water, produced, transmitted, delivered, or furnished shall charge residential condominium occupants or residential condominium associations for such distribution service, heat, water, or telephone service at a residential rate and not a business, commercial or any other rate.History of Section.P.L. 1990, ch. 260, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 316, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-2-22 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-22 - Seven-digit dialing option.

§ 39-2-22. Seven-digit dialing option.In addition to other dialing, where technically and economically feasible, a telecommunications public utility shall make available to users a seven-digit (7) dialing capability for completion of intrastate Rhode Island calls outside the local calling area, unless specifically directed otherwise by the customer.History of Section.P.L. 1995, ch. 258, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-2-23 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-23 - Safe termination of service - Qualified employees.

§ 39-2-23. Safe termination of service — Qualified employees.No gas company, as described in § 39-1-2(a)(20), shall allow employees to terminate, restore, or activate gas services unless those employees have gained relevant experience by working for a gas company at least two (2) years and have been properly trained in the safe termination or activation or restoration of gas services. The same criteria shall also apply to the periodic testing of meters. A certification process of gas service employees shall be established and enforced by the public utilities commission.History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 18, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-2.1-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2.1 - Location of Residential Gas Regulators and Gas Meters|Section 39-2.1-1 - Location of residential gas regulators and gas meters.

§ 39-2.1-1. Location of residential gas regulators and gas meters.(a) Prior to the location or relocation of any residential gas regulator or gas meter, the public utility shall consult with the owner(s) of the property as to their preference concerning the most suitable location for such devices, and the public utility shall give preference to locations that are least visibly prominent.(b) The public utility is hereby prohibited from installing gas regulators and/or gas meters on the visible front of any residential property or visible sides of the property that face a public right-of-way, unless permitted to do so by the owner or unless it is determined that there exists no prudent and feasible alternative to such location. In high-pressure systems, the gas regulator may be located in an unobtrusive exterior location that is not visible from a public right-of-way.History of Section.P.L. 2009, ch. 110, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 184, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-2.1-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2.1 - Location of Residential Gas Regulators and Gas Meters|Section 39-2.1-2 - Location of gas regulators and/or gas meters in historic districts.

§ 39-2.1-2. Location of gas regulators and/or gas meters in historic districts.(a) The public utility is hereby prohibited from installing gas regulators or gas meters on the exterior of property located within a historic district, unless permitted to do so by the owner, and is hereby required to obtain a certificate of appropriateness from the historic district commission of any city or town that has been created by the city or town council in accordance with the provisions of chapter 24.1 of title 45, et seq.; provided, however, in high-pressure systems, the public utility may install gas regulators on the exterior of property, subject to the exterior location being approved by the owner and the historic district commission.(b) For the purposes of this section, "property located within a historic district" means "a certified historic structure" as defined in § 44-33.2-2(1).History of Section.P.L. 2009, ch. 110, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 184, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-2.1-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2.1 - Location of Residential Gas Regulators and Gas Meters|Section 39-2.1-3 - Obligations of residential property owners.

§ 39-2.1-3. Obligations of residential property owners.(a) The owner(s) of any residential property within the interior of which a gas regulator or gas meter is located shall grant reasonable access to the public utility responsible for the maintenance of the regulator or meter in order to perform safety activities as required by law not less than every thirty-six (36) months. Any owner who denies the public utility access to the gas regulator or gas meter shall be subject to termination of service, and the public utility is hereby authorized to relocate the gas regulator or gas meter to the exterior of the property in accordance with the provisions of § 39-2.1-1.(b) The owner(s) of property with interior gas regulators or gas meters shall be required to sign a consent form agreeing to the terms set forth in subsection (a).(c) The owner(s) of residential property are hereby authorized to paint exterior gas regulators, but not the regulator vents, and gas meters in order to blend with color of the property, and may landscape in front of the regulator and/or meter in order to conceal the location thereof.History of Section.P.L. 2009, ch. 110, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 184, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-2.2-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2.2 - Rhode Island Utility Fair Share Roadway Repair Act|Section 39-2.2-1 - Short title.

§ 39-2.2-1. Short title.This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Utility Fair Share Roadway Repair Act."History of Section.P.L. 2019, ch. 170, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 234, § 1.