reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 39-1.1-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-1.1 - Termination of Service to Persons Who Are Disabled, Seriously Ill, or in Arrears of Payment|Section 39-1.1-4 - Effect on existing rules.

§ 39-1.1-4. Effect on existing rules.Nothing in this chapter is intended to modify any existing or proposed rules and regulations dealing with utility termination during winter months as defined by the commission. Nothing in this chapter is intended to modify any existing or proposed rules and regulations dealing with termination of telephone service.History of Section.P.L. 1979, ch. 410, art. 5, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-1.1-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-1.1 - Termination of Service to Persons Who Are Disabled, Seriously Ill, or in Arrears of Payment|Section 39-1.1-5 - Severability.

§ 39-1.1-5. Severability.If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, its invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are severable.History of Section.P.L. 1979, ch. 410, art. 8, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-1.2-1.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-1.2 - Excavation Near Underground Utility Facilities|Section 39-1.2-1.1 - Findings.

§ 39-1.2-1.1. Findings.The general assembly finds and declares that:(1) Safety and the need for an effective damage-prevention program for underground utility facilities should include participation from all stakeholders including excavators and utility companies;(2) To develop a process for fostering and promoting the use of an effective damage-prevention program, by all appropriate stakeholders, technologies need to be improved that enhance communications, underground pipeline-locating capability, and gathering and analyzing information about the accuracy and effectiveness of underground facility-locating programs;(3) Many public, private, and municipal utilities are located underground, including, but not limited to, gas, water, electric, cable television, telephone, and sewers. Excavation in the vicinity of these utilities can be dangerous and the utilities should be marked appropriately to avoid damage, injury, or public emergency; and(4) All utilities, whether public, private, or municipal, should strongly consider participation in the utility damage-prevention program known as Dig Safe System, Inc. to ensure the highest level of safety and awareness of utility facility locations.History of Section.P.L. 2009, ch. 92, § 2; P.L. 2009, ch. 103, § 2.
RI Gen L § 39-1.2-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-1.2 - Excavation Near Underground Utility Facilities|Section 39-1.2-2 - Excavation or demolition near public utility.

§ 39-1.2-2. Excavation or demolition near public utility.No person, public agency, or public utility shall engage in excavation in the approximate location of public utility facilities or discharge explosives or demolish a structure containing a public utility facility without having first ascertained in the manner prescribed in this chapter the location of all public utility facilities or public utilities in the area or the absence thereof.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 119, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 367, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-1.2-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-1.2 - Excavation Near Underground Utility Facilities|Section 39-1.2-3 - Annual report by public utilities.

§ 39-1.2-3. Annual report by public utilities.All public utilities of the state, owning and operating underground facilities, shall file annually, with the administrator, a report setting forth the total mileage of underground facilities, excluding service connections, including the title, address, and telephone number of its representatives designated to receive the notice required by § 39-1.2-5.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 119, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 367, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-1.2-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-1.2 - Excavation Near Underground Utility Facilities|Section 39-1.2-4 - Public utilities association - Creation.

§ 39-1.2-4. Public utilities association — Creation.All public utilities of the state, owning and operating underground facilities, shall, with the assistance of the administrator, jointly participate in an association providing for mutual receipt of notification required by §§ 39-1.2-2 and 39-1.2-5. The cost of the operation of the association shall be apportioned equitably among all public utilities whose underground facilities are registered with the administrator.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 119, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 367, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-1.2-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-1.2 - Excavation Near Underground Utility Facilities|Section 39-1.2-6 - Compliance by public agencies.

§ 39-1.2-6. Compliance by public agencies.Any permit issued by a public agency for excavation, demolition, or the discharge of explosives shall be issued in compliance with this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 119, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-1.2-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-1.2 - Excavation Near Underground Utility Facilities|Section 39-1.2-7 - Marking of underground utilities and excavations.

§ 39-1.2-7. Marking of underground utilities and excavations.(a) A public utility served with the notice in accordance with § 39-1.2-5 shall, within seventy-two (72) hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, of the receipt of the notice, unless otherwise agreed between the person or public agency performing the work and the public utility, mark the approximate location of the underground utility facilities.(b) Prior to notifying the association, any excavator must premark the area of proposed excavation in a manner that will enable the owner of the public utility facilities to identify the boundaries of the proposed excavation activities, except that premarking shall not be required if the proposed excavation will be continuous and exceed five hundred feet (500′) in length, or if such marks may reasonably interfere with traffic or pedestrian control or are misleading to the general public.(c) A public utility shall mark any of its underground utility facilities that are located within fifteen feet (15′) of the exterior limits of the premarked excavation area.(d) For the purposes of this chapter, the approximate location of underground utility facilities shall be marked with stakes, paint, or other physical means as may be necessary to ensure a distinctive mark. The public utility shall follow the color coding prescribed in this section.  UTILITY AND TYPE OF PRODUCTSPECIFIC GROUP  IDENTIFYING COLOR       Electric power distribution and transmission Safety Red   State and municipal electric systems Safety Red   Gas distribution and transmission High Visibility Safety Yellow   Dangerous materials, product line High Visibility Safety Yellow   Telephone and telegraph systems Safety Alert Orange   Water systems Safety Precaution Blue   Cable antenna television Safety Alert Orange   Premark White  (e) In the event the excavator shall damage the underground public utility facilities as the result of an incorrect marking by the public utility, the excavator shall not be responsible for the resulting damage.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 119, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 327, § 1; P.L. 1997, ch. 326, § 104; P.L. 2009, ch. 92, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 103, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-1.2-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-1.2 - Excavation Near Underground Utility Facilities|Section 39-1.2-8 - Notice in emergency.

§ 39-1.2-8. Notice in emergency.(a) In the event of any emergency posing a threat to life, public health, public safety, or property, or that may require immediate correction in order to continue the operation of a major industrial plant, or to ensure the continuity of public utility service, excavation, maintenance, or repairs may be made without using explosives upon notice and advice thereof given to the association as soon as it is determined that an emergency exists. The excavator shall thereafter employ any means necessary, excluding blasting, to ensure that the underground public utility facilities in the area of the excavation shall not be damaged.(b) In the event of an emergency, public utilities shall notify the excavator, at the telephone number provided to the association by the excavator, within two (2) hours upon receipt of notice as to whether the public utility has any facilities in the vicinity of the proposed excavation. If the public utility has any facilities in the vicinity of the proposed excavation, the public utility shall mark out its facilities no later than three (3) hours after receipt of notice from the association.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 119, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 367, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 92, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 103, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-1.2-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-1.2 - Excavation Near Underground Utility Facilities|Section 39-1.2-9 - Municipal ordinances.

§ 39-1.2-9. Municipal ordinances.This chapter shall not be construed to authorize, affect, or impair local ordinances, charters of other provisions of law requiring permits to be obtained before excavating or tunneling in a public street or highway, or to construct or demolish buildings or other structures on private property, nor construed to grant any person or public agency any rights not specifically provided by this chapter. A permit issued by a public agency shall not be deemed to relieve a person from the responsibility for complying with the provisions of this chapter. The failure of any person, who or that has been granted a permit, to comply with the provisions of this chapter, shall not be deemed to impose any liability upon the public agency issuing the permit. Any disagreement between a public utility company and a person shall be referred to the administrator whose order shall be binding upon the parties.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 119, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 367, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-1.2-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-1.2 - Excavation Near Underground Utility Facilities|Section 39-1.2-10 - Procedures at work site.

§ 39-1.2-10. Procedures at work site.Any person or public agency excavating, tunneling, or discharging explosives shall exercise reasonable care when working in close proximity to the underground public utility facilities of any public utility. Further, when the facilities are to be exposed, only nonmechanical means shall be employed to locate the facility and such support, as may be reasonably necessary for the protection of the facilities, shall be provided in and near the work area.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 119, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 367, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-1.2-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-1.2 - Excavation Near Underground Utility Facilities|Section 39-1.2-11 - Damage - Notice to public utility.

§ 39-1.2-11. Damage — Notice to public utility.(a) Upon the occurrence of any contact with, or damage to, any pipe, cable, or its protective coating, or any other underground facility of a public utility, the appropriate and/or affected public utility shall be notified immediately by the person or public agency responsible for the operation causing the contact or damage prior to backfilling the excavation. Upon the receipt of the notice, the public utility shall immediately dispatch personnel to the subject location to effect temporary or permanent repair of the damage. Under no circumstances shall the excavator backfill or conceal the damaged area until the public utility arrives at the subject location. Upon the occurrence of a serious electrical short, or the escape of dangerous fluids or gases from a broken line, the person or public agency responsible for the operations causing the damage shall call 911 if the damage presents an immediate danger to life and health of employees or pedestrians in the surrounding area. In the event of an immediate danger to life and health occurrence, the area shall be evacuated until proper emergency services arrive.(b) Any person, public agency, or public utility shall report all suspected violations of this chapter to the division of public utilities and carriers within thirty (30) days after learning of the circumstances constituting the suspected violation.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 119, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 367, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 97, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 128, § 1; P.L. 2017, ch. 83, § 1; P.L. 2017, ch. 91, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-1.2-12 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-1.2 - Excavation Near Underground Utility Facilities|Section 39-1.2-12 - Maintenance of utility markings.

§ 39-1.2-12. Maintenance of utility markings.After a public utility has marked its underground facilities in accordance with the provisions of § 39-1.2-7, the excavator shall be responsible for maintenance of the designated markings. In the event the markings are obliterated, destroyed, or removed, the utility shall, within forty-eight (48) hours following the receipt of a request, re-mark the location of its facilities.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 119, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 92, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 103, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-1.2-13 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-1.2 - Excavation Near Underground Utility Facilities|Section 39-1.2-13 - Penalties.

§ 39-1.2-13. Penalties.(a) Any person or utility who or that violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty of no more than three hundred fifty dollars ($350) for the first offense and not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for any subsequent offense within a twelve-month (12) period. The administrator of the division of public utilities and carriers shall assess the civil penalty against the person or utility who or that is determined to have committed the violation. All penalties recovered shall be paid into the general fund of the state. This chapter shall not be construed to affect any civil remedies for personal injury or property damage (including underground utilities), except as otherwise specifically provided for in this chapter.(b) Any contractor found in violation of this chapter that, after due process of law, fails to satisfy any such fines levied pursuant to this chapter shall be ineligible to bid on or be awarded any municipal, quasi-municipal, state, state-funded, state-regulated or state-subsidized construction and/or public works contracts.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 119, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 317, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 345, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 367, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 92, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 103, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-1.2-13.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-1.2 - Excavation Near Underground Utility Facilities|Section 39-1.2-13.1 - Powers of administrator.

§ 39-1.2-13.1. Powers of administrator.In enforcing the provisions of this chapter with respect to persons who or that are not public utilities, the administrator may:(1) Conduct an investigation in connection with violations involving the excavation or demolition of public utility facilities; and(2) For purposes of an investigation permitted under this section, require any person, which for purposes of this section only may be defined to include an individual, partnership, corporation, association or agent thereof, involved in the excavation or demolition of a public utility facility to appear at such time and place as the administrator may designate, then and there under oath to produce for the use of the administrator any and all documents and other such information relating directly to the incident as the administrator may require; and(3) Require the attendance of any person as provided in this section, provided however that the administrator shall issue a notice setting the time and place when the attendance is required and shall cause the notice to be delivered or sent by registered or certified mail to the person at least fourteen (14) days before the date fixed in the notice for the attendance. In the event that any person fails to receive or accept notice by mail or fails to produce information requested, the administrator is empowered to issue a subpoena in a manner consistent with § 39-1-13.If any person receiving notice pursuant to this provision neglects to attend or remain in attendance so long as may be necessary for the purposes which the notice was issued, or refuses to produce information requested, any justice of the Superior Court for the county within which the inquiry is carried on or within which the person resides or transacts business, upon application of either the administrator or the person subject to the notice, shall have jurisdiction to hear and consider on an expedited basis the request and if deemed necessary and relevant to the consideration of the incident at issue, may issue an appropriate order. Any failure to obey the order of the superior court may be punished by the court as contempt thereof. The administrator may, after notice and opportunity for a fair and prompt hearing, and a finding that the person was in whole or in part responsible for the incident based upon clear and convincing evidence, impose a penalty or fine not in excess of penalties set forth in § 39-1.2-13.This section shall not limit or affect any powers conferred upon the administrator pursuant to this title as such powers relate to public utility companies or agents thereof.History of Section.P.L. 1998, ch. 367, § 2.
RI Gen L § 39-1.2-14 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-1.2 - Excavation Near Underground Utility Facilities|Section 39-1.2-14 - Severability.

§ 39-1.2-14. Severability.If any provision of this chapter or the applicability thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter and the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 119, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-2-1.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-1.1 - Services to new occupants.

§ 39-2-1.1. Services to new occupants.No public utility shall refuse to furnish services to new occupants at any premises on the grounds that the previous occupant has vacated the premises without paying the public utility for services furnished, provided that the service is not for the use or benefit of the previous occupant.History of Section.P.L. 1976, ch. 219, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-2-1.3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-1.3 - Payment for cellular telephone services - Late charges.

§ 39-2-1.3. Payment for cellular telephone services — Late charges.No subscriber to a cellular telephone service shall be subject to an assessment of a late fee on a monthly billing unless the payment is at least thirty (30) days past the close of the billing period that is the subject of the statement. A cellular telephone 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.History of Section.P.L. 1998, ch. 344, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-2-1.4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-2 - Duties of Utilities and Carriers|Section 39-2-1.4 - Reasonable backup or supplemental rates.

§ 39-2-1.4. Reasonable backup or supplemental rates.(a) Electricity produced by cogeneration and small power production can be of benefit to the public as part of the total energy supply of the entire electric grid of the state or consumed by a cogenerator or small power producer. Subject to compliance with applicable rules governing service, public utilities shall provide transmission or distribution service to enable a retail customer to transmit electrical power generated by the customer at one location to the customer's facilities at another location, if the commission finds that the provision of this service, and the charges, terms, and other conditions associated with the provision of this service, are not likely to result in higher cost electric service to the utility's general body of retail and wholesale customers or adversely affect the adequacy or reliability of electric service to all customers.(b) Each electric distribution company shall provide backup and supplemental service to any customer who is self-generating electricity and meets reasonable interconnection requirements designed to protect the distribution and transmission system. The commission shall ensure that backup and supplemental rates made, exacted, demanded, or collected by any public utility from a customer who is self-generating shall be just and reasonable and may not be unduly discriminatory. Any backup and supplemental rate tariffs in effect as of May 2002 may remain in effect as designed through December 31, 2004. Commencing January 1, 2005, the backup and supplemental rates shall be cost-based but may be discounted as provided for in subsection (c); provided, however, that the John O. Pastore Center power plant shall be exempt from the backup or supplemental rates.(c) Notwithstanding the rate design criteria set forth in subsection (b), the commission may permit or require discounted backup-distribution-service rates in order to encourage economically efficient cogeneration or small power-production projects if it finds these discounts to be in the public interest and/or contribute to system reliability procurement or least-cost procurement; provided, however, that any revenue not recovered by the electric distribution company as a result of these discounted distribution rates shall be accounted for and recovered in the rates assessed on all customers. The commission shall, in determining the public interest in distributed-generating facilities, consider reduced environmental impacts, increased energy efficiency, reduced transmission losses and congestion, effects on electric system reliability, and other factors the commission may deem relevant.(d) The provisions of this section shall be effective as of January 1, 2005.History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 144, § 4; P.L. 2003, ch. 376, art. 15, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 595, art. 35, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 236, § 7; P.L. 2006, ch. 237, § 7.