Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 815 - Division of Public Utilities and Carriers › Chapter 30 - Electric Utilities › Subchapter 05 - Non-regulated Power Producers › Part 2 - Nonregulated Power Producer Consumer Bill of Rights (815-RICR-30-05-2) › Section 815-RICR-30-05-2.5 - Certain Customer Rights

Current through June 14, 2024
A. An electric
				  distribution company shall transfer a residential customer to the standard
				  offer service rate not later than the next billing cycle after receipt of a
				  request from a residential customer eligible for the standard offer
				  service.
B. The electric
				  distribution company shall not be liable for any contract termination fees that
				  may be assessed by the nonregulated power producer.
C. An electric distribution company shall
				  transfer a residential customer to the electric generation service rate of a
				  nonregulated power producer not later than the next billing cycle after the
				  electric distribution company receives from the nonregulated power producer a
				  successful enrollment of such residential customer unless the notification is
				  not received by the electric distribution company in accordance with its
				  Commission-approved terms and conditions on file with the Division and
				  Commission.
D. Notwithstanding any
				  other provision of the Rhode Island General Laws, nothing shall prohibit a
				  residential customer who moves from one dwelling to another dwelling within
				  Rhode Island from immediately receiving electric generation service from a
				  nonregulated power producer, provided such customer was receiving such service
				  from a nonregulated power producer immediately prior to such move.
E. The electric distribution company shall
				  include in its terms and conditions, subject to review and approval by the
				  Commission, conditions for release of customer information to a nonregulated
				  power producer.
F. Customer shall
				  be entitled to any available individual information about their loads or usage
				  at no cost.
G. Nonregulated power
				  producers shall explain to residential customers in writing the material terms
				  and conditions of the contract for electric generation services being consented
				  to by the customer [consent to a contract for electric generation services
				  shall be established as set out in §
										2.5(H)   of this Part, below]. This
				  written explanation shall include each of the topics set out below in the order
				  specified below; the topics shall be numbered as below and shall restate each
				  topic description below, printed in boldface and underlined, as a heading. The
				  written information provided by the nonregulated power producer may address
				  additional topics if desired, but those additional topics shall follow the
				  required topics set out below, and shall be numbered with appropriate topic
				  headings. The specified information shall be provided to each customer or
				  prospective customer.
1. A description of the
				  rate the customer will be paying
2. Whether such rate is a fixed or variable
				  rate.
3. The terms and expiration
				  date of such rate.
4. Whether the
				  contract will automatically renew. If the contract will renew automatically,
				  the contract shall specify the date by which the customer must contact the
				  nonregulated power producer if he or she seeks to disenroll at the end of the
				  term to avoid extending service with the nonregulated power producer beyond the
				  initial term of service. Such date must allow the nonregulated power producer
				  to contact the applicable distribution company in sufficient time to switch the
				  customer back prior to entry into the customer's next billing cycle, as set
				  forth in the electric distribution company's tariff on file with the
				  Division.
5. A notice describing
				  the customer's right to cancel the service, including the right to schedule the
				  cancellation of service on a date certain at any time during the contract
				  period, as provided in this section. It shall also specify the conditions under
				  which the nonregulated power producer may terminate the contract, and the
				  notification rules for effecting such termination. Finally, this notice must
				  advise the consumer that the nonregulated power producer may not physically cut
				  off electric service to consumers.
6. Method by which a consumer may cancel
				  service through the nonregulated power producer. While canceling by sending an
				  email or by other electronic means may be acceptable, an additional method by
				  which a consumer without internet access may cancel service must be provided,
				  such as by mailing a letter, sending a facsimile transmission (fax)of a letter;
				  or by making a telephone call with third-party verification.
7. Advise the consumer that the contract
				  shall specifically guarantee the consumer that the nonregulated power producer
				  shall enroll the consumer in a new service agreement, or shall terminate an
				  existing consumer's service agreement in accordance with the terms of that
				  service agreement, as appropriate, prior to the consumer's next bill read date
				  so long as the request to enroll or disenroll has been made at least seven (7)
				  calendar days in advance of the next bill read date.
8. Advise the consumer that the contract
				  shall specifically guarantee the consumer that the nonregulated power producer
				  shall, in the event that the consumer opts to return to the distribution
				  company's standard offer service upon expiration of a service agreement with
				  the nonregulated power producer, provide the consumer with written confirmation
				  that it has received word of the customer's cancellation decision and has
				  processed the request.
9. Dispute
				  resolution process.
10. A statement
				  that there may be a market adjustment charged or credited to the customer by
				  [name of electric distribution company] on his or her last utility bill for
				  which the customer is enrolled in standard offer service.
11. Amount of any fees or penalties that may
				  be imposed, e.g., for late payments, bad checks, or early contract
				  terminations.
12. Any deposits that
				  may be required (including amount, interest rate, recovery, conditions for
				  forfeiture).
13. Budget plan
				  availability, if any.
14.
				  Information on air emissions and resource mix of generation facilities operate
				  by and under long-term contract to the nonregulated power producer.
15. The trade name of the nonregulated power
				  producer.
16. The toll-free
				  telephone number for customer service of the nonregulated power
				  producer.
17. The internet website
				  of the nonregulated power producer.
18. The toll-free number for customer
				  complaints at the Division [(401) 780-9700].
19. The name, business phone number, business
				  address, and email address of the person at the nonregulated power producer
				  that agreed on the service contract terms with the customer.