Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 810 - Public Utilities Commission › Chapter 10 - Consumer Protection › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 1 - Rules and Regulations Governing the Termination of Residential Electric, Gas and Water Service (810-RICR-10-00-1) › Section 810-RICR-10-00-1.17 - Restoration of Service by Order of the Public Utilities Commission

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Emergency
				 Restoration Order: The Administrator of the Division of Public Utilities and
				 Carriers or his designee shall have the emergency authority to order immediate
				 restoration of utility service when restoration of such service is necessary to
				 protect the health, welfare and safety of the residents of the dwelling to which
				 utility service has been terminated. The Administrator's designee under this
				 Section shall not have been involved in prior review of the customer's
				 account.
B. If there is no Division
				 of Public Utilities and Carriers employee available to act as the Administrator's
				 designee, the Public Utilities Commission or, in the absence of two or more
				 Commissioners, one Commissioner, may order any utility service immediately
				 restored, pending hearing and decision by the Division of Public Utilities and
				 Carriers, when restoration of such service is necessary to protect the health,
				 welfare and safety of the residents of the dwelling to which utility service has
				 been terminated. In considering the request, the Commission will determine
				 whether the requestor has attempted to avoid termination through the procedures
				 set forth in these Rules and will not act as an appellate body to the Division of
				 Public Utilities and Carriers. Further, in addition to obtaining information from
				 the requestor, the Commission will seek input from the utility company and
				 Division of Public Utilities and Carriers prior to making any decision and if
				 quorum exists, will comply with the Open Meetings Laws of the State of Rhode
				 Island.
C. An order granting or
				 denying the restoration of services pursuant to §§
										1.17(A) and
				 (B)     of this Part, above, shall be issued
				 promptly.
D. Restoration Ordered:
				 Referred to Division
If utility service is ordered restored pursuant to
					 §§
											1.17(A) and
					 (B)     of this Part above, the Public Utilities
					 Commission shall immediately refer the matter to the Division of Public Utilities
					 and Carriers with instructions to hold a hearing and render a decision pursuant
					 to §
											1.14     of
					 this Part and shall relinquish jurisdiction of the matter to the Division of
					 Public Utilities and Carriers.
E. Denial of Restoration
Any order issued pursuant to §§
											1.17(A), (B),
					 or (C) of this Part above, denying restoration of services shall be subject to
					 the appropriate review procedures set forth in §
											1.14     of this
					 Part.
F. Summer Moratorium
Every public utility subject to these regulations shall not
					 terminate the service of any residential customer for non-payment on those days
					 for which the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory or excessive
					 heat warning for Rhode Island.