reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 810 - Public Utilities Commission › Chapter 00 - General Administration › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 4 - Filing of Annual Reports by Water Carriers (810-RICR-00-00-4) › Section 810-RICR-00-00-4.1 - Authority and Purpose

Current through June 14, 2024
Pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §§
										39-1-1,
					  39-1-7,
					  39-1-13,
					  39-1-15,
					  39-1-21,
					  39-1-22,
					  39-1-38,
					  39-3-11,
					  42-35-1 et seq. the
					 Commission finds that in order to carry out its charge in R.I. Gen. Laws §
										39-1-1"to supervise [and] regulate.the conduct of companies offering to the public in
					 intrastate commerce.transportation services.for the purpose of increasing and
					 maintaining the efficiency of the companies, according desirable safeguards and
					 convenience to their employees and to the public, and protecting them and the
					 public against improper and unreasonable rates, tolls and charges.." all water
					 common carriers doing business in the State of Rhode Island are required to file
					 Annual Reports with the Commission not later than ninety (90) days following the
					 close of the company's fiscal year.
Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 810 - Public Utilities Commission › Chapter 00 - General Administration › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 4 - Filing of Annual Reports by Water Carriers (810-RICR-00-00-4) › Section 810-RICR-00-00-4.2 - Definitions

Current through June 14, 2024
A. "Common carrier" means as defined in R.I.
				 Gen. Laws §
										39-1-2(7).
B. "Public utility" means as defined in R.I.
				 Gen. Laws §
										39-1-2(20).
C. "Water common carrier" means a common
				 carrier of persons and/or property operating upon water between termini within
				 the State of Rhode Island with annual revenues of $100,000 or greater.
D. "Company" means the water common carrier
				 filing the annual report.
E.
				 "Commission" means the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission.
F. "Division" means the Rhode Island Division
				 of Public Utilities and Carriers.
Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 810 - Public Utilities Commission › Chapter 00 - General Administration › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 4 - Filing of Annual Reports by Water Carriers (810-RICR-00-00-4) › Section 810-RICR-00-00-4.3 - Filing of Annual Reports

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Time for Filing
1. Water common carriers doing business in the
				 State of Rhode Island are required to file Annual Reports with the Commission not
				 later than ninety (90) days following the close of the company's fiscal year. If
				 annual revenues are under $1 million, the entity may file its report not later
				 than 120 days after the close of the company's fiscal year.
Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 810 - Public Utilities Commission › Chapter 00 - General Administration › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 5 - Additional Requirements for Filings of General Rate Schedule Changes › Section 810-RICR-00-00-5.1 - Authority and Purpose

Current through June 14, 2024
A. These
				 regulations are promulgated pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §
										39-1-11.
B. The purpose of these
				 regulations is to improve the efficiency of the Commission's procedures for the
				 review of proposed rate schedule changes and the conduct of such hearings as
				 may be required, to raise their quality and to increase their speed. To
				 accomplish this objective, the regulations require each company to furnish
				 supporting testimony and exhibits in the case of any proposed rate schedule
				 changes and to furnish specific information and exhibits where a general
				 increase in rates is proposed under the applicable statutes. In connection with
				 the latter, the regulations require each company to present its case-in-chief,
				 to the extent feasible, in a standard format. The prescribed information is
				 directed to items that the Commission has found useful in recent proceedings;
				 the format should facilitate analysis of the filing by marking a traceable
				 trail from the book source data through the adjustments and summaries to the
				 proposed revenue requirements.
C.
				 It should be noted, however, that these regulations are not intended to
				 restrict in any way the right of any company to submit such additional exhibits
				 and testimony or to argue such theories as it may choose in any
				 proceeding.
Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 810 - Public Utilities Commission › Chapter 00 - General Administration › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 5 - Additional Requirements for Filings of General Rate Schedule Changes › Section 810-RICR-00-00-5.2 - Applicability

Current through June 14, 2024
The rules and regulations contained in this part shall be
					 applicable only to proceedings involving the investigation of changes in rates
					 constituting a general rate increase in which the respondent utility's overall
					 revenue requirements are at issue.
Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 810 - Public Utilities Commission › Chapter 00 - General Administration › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 5 - Additional Requirements for Filings of General Rate Schedule Changes › Section 810-RICR-00-00-5.3 - Filing

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Notice to the Commission of proposed
				 general rate schedule changes by a public utility pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws
				 §
										39-3-11, shall be given by a filing with the Commission pursuant to the
				 Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, Part 1 of this Subchapter,
				 accompanied by the documents, data and information in the manner and form
				 required by these rules, unless a motion for an exemption from any requirements
				 accompanies the filing.
B. In the
				 event that any information, document or data required by this Part is
				 unavailable and/or its ascertainment or submission would be unduly burdensome
				 or it is not relevant in light of the schedule change which is the subject of
				 the application, the applicant may file with the application a motion for an
				 exemption from the requirement. The motion shall set forth in detail the
				 reasons why the information, document or data cannot or should not be
				 submitted. The granting of such a motion shall not exempt the applicant from
				 supplying the information, document or data in response to a subsequent data
				 request.
C. Commission-ordered
				 suspension periods of up to eight months commence on the date a general rate
				 filing would otherwise take effect. After docketing, any change or changes in
				 the filing which would, singly or in the aggregate, increase the overall cost
				 of service by more than one percent (1%), or an individual rate by more than
				 five percent (5%), may be treated as a new filing, triggering a new eight (8)
				 month period for Commission review and decision.
Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 810 - Public Utilities Commission › Chapter 00 - General Administration › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 5 - Additional Requirements for Filings of General Rate Schedule Changes › Section 810-RICR-00-00-5.4 - Notice of Filing-Proposed Rate Change

Current through June 14, 2024
Within ten (10) days after filing for general rate schedule
					 changes, the applicant shall cause a notice of the filing, in a form to be
					 approved by the Commission, to be published in the newspaper of widest
					 circulation within the applicant's service territory. In addition, the company
					 shall include a notice of its proposed general rate schedule changes in the
					 next general customer billing, if within sixty (60) days following the filing
					 of the application, or by a separate mailing.
Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 810 - Public Utilities Commission › Chapter 00 - General Administration › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 5 - Additional Requirements for Filings of General Rate Schedule Changes › Section 810-RICR-00-00-5.5 - Items to Be Included in The Filing

Current through June 14, 2024
A. The
				 following materials shall be included in or shall accompany the filing:
1. Rate Schedules; Terms and Conditions. The
				 current and proposed rate schedules and the terms and conditions under which
				 the utility provides services and/or makes non-tariffed charges.
2. Complete Direct Case. An original and nine
				 (9) copies of the applicant's complete direct case in support of the rates
				 applied for, which shall be in the form of prepared written testimony and
				 exhibits.
3. Additional Documents.
				 Two (2) copies of each of the following:
a.
				 Annual Report to the Commission for the last two (2) years, if reports have not
				 been previously filed with the Commission.
b. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or
				 Federal Communications Commission annual reports for the last two (2) years,
				 where applicable, if not previously filed with the Commission, and any
				 correspondence or written comments in connection with these reports.
c. The latest Federal Energy Regulatory
				 Commission or Federal Communications Commission audit report (including
				 management letter) and any written response to the report or management
				 comments. Unresolved or outstanding matters should be highlighted.
d. Securities and Exchange Commission Annual
				 10-K reports filed for the last two (2) years and any Quarterly 10-Q reports
				 filed for the period(s) subsequent to the latest 10-K report.
e. Any prospectus issued during the last two
				 (2) years.
f. Annual reports to
				 stockholders for the last three (3) years.
g. Statement reconciling any significant
				 differences between items shown in the filing and items in any of the above
				 reports.
Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 810 - Public Utilities Commission › Chapter 00 - General Administration › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 5 - Additional Requirements for Filings of General Rate Schedule Changes › Section 810-RICR-00-00-5.6 - Test Year and Rate Year Filing

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Test Year. The
				 filing shall present cost of service and rate base schedules for a test year
				 period. The test year constitutes a historic year of actual data for a period
				 ending within nine (9) months of the filing date. The test year may be for such
				 other period as the Commission may allow.
B. Rate Year. The rate year is the
				 twelve-month period for which new rates are designed to recover the proposed
				 cost of service. The rate year period shall be the filed test year or such
				 other yearly period which commences no later than eight (8) months after the
				 proposed effective date of the new tariffs.
C. Adjustments to the Test Year. Where a rate
				 year is filed for a period different from the test year, supporting schedules
				 or workpapers shall be filed to disclose the manner in which the rate year
				 amounts were calculated. The adjustments to the test year shall be fully
				 explained in written testimony, and the source of the data in support of the
				 adjustments shall be presented, or disclosed, as appropriate.
1. Normalization Adjustments. These
				 adjustments shall be made to the test year to present a reasonable/normal
				 amount for one full year of operations. The test year must be normalized to
				 reflect expected results for a typical future year. All items of unusual
				 magnitude which occurred during the test year, but which are not expected to
				 recur to a significant degree beyond the test year, should be adjusted to
				 reflect what is reasonably to be expected in the future. Correspondingly,
				 adjustments should be made to reflect items that are fixed, determinable, and
				 likely to occur in the future, but did not occur to a significant degree during
				 the test year.
2. Proforma
				 Adjustments. These adjustments serve to walk-up the normalized test year
				 amounts to the balances presented for the rate year.
3. Accounting Change Adjustments. Any change
				 in the manner of recording accounting data on the company's books shall be
				 explained and the financial impact shown.
4. Inflationary adjustments. These
				 adjustments are based upon projected cost increases.
Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 810 - Public Utilities Commission › Chapter 00 - General Administration › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 5 - Additional Requirements for Filings of General Rate Schedule Changes › Section 810-RICR-00-00-5.7 - Attestation of Financial Data

Current through June 14, 2024
The financial data shall be accompanied by a statement
					 attesting to the accuracy of the financial data presented in the rate base,
					 cost of service and other financial statements; that such data purports to
					 reflect the books of the company, and the results of operations; and that all
					 differences between the books and the test year data, and any changes in the
					 manner of recording an item on the company's books during the test year, have
					 been expressly noted. This attestation shall be signed by the chief financial
					 officer or a person duly authorized by such financial
					 officer.
Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 810 - Public Utilities Commission › Chapter 00 - General Administration › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 5 - Additional Requirements for Filings of General Rate Schedule Changes › Section 810-RICR-00-00-5.10 - Abbreviated Filing Requirements for Non-Investor-Owned Utilities

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Availability. A non-investor-owned utility
				 may receive a limited revenue increase through an abbreviated filing process
				 requiring submission of less data than would otherwise be required under
				 §§
										5.5,   5.6, and   5.9     of this Part. Information required of water
				 utilities pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §
										39-3-12.1 must be filed.
B. Limitation on Revenue Increase. The
				 allowable revenue increase will be limited to twenty-five (25%) percent over a
				 normalized test year period. Increases to test year amounts will be allowed for
				 known and measurable changes to:
1. debt
				 service requirements;
2. salaries,
				 wages, and employee benefits;
3.
				 property taxes;
4.
				 chemicals;
5. insurance;
6. infrastructure replacement program
				 funding; and
7. purchased
				 water.
Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 810 - Public Utilities Commission › Chapter 00 - General Administration › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 5 - Additional Requirements for Filings of General Rate Schedule Changes › Section 810-RICR-00-00-5.11 - Filing Requirements for Rate Changes in Compliance With Commission Orders

Current through June 14, 2024
A. For compliance
				 with a Commission general rate order that provides for a cost of service
				 differing from the proposed cost of service, the utility shall file the
				 following:
1. Revised tariff pages.
2. A billing analysis detailing all revenues
				 by source, tariff, rate class, etc. The analysis shall present the sales
				 volumes/quantities and customer counts, by rate class, for the rate year
				 extended out to sales revenues agreeing with the cost of service.
3. For each rate group, the effect of the
				 rate changes shall be presented in a comparative billing format (current and
				 new rates) for typical (or varying) usage levels. Also, the overall revenue
				 increase for each rate group shall be disclosed in both dollar amount and
				 percentage increase.
4. Any other
				 revised schedules, prefiled testimony, ordered compliance information, or other
				 data which should be filed.
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-10-00-1.1 - Authority and Purpose

Current through June 14, 2024
These rules and regulations are promulgated and are adopted
					 by the Public Utilities Commission.
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-10-00-1.3 - Termination of Service

Current through June 14, 2024
A. APPLICABILITY:
				 These regulations shall apply to all individuals, partnerships, associations,
				 corporations, municipalities, and cooperatives which are under the jurisdiction
				 of the Public Utilities Commission and which own or operate electric, gas, or
				 water utilities in the State of Rhode Island. They shall apply only to
				 residential customers of the public utility and shall not be applicable to
				 commercial or industrial customers.
B. TERMINATION: Subject to the requirements of
				 these regulations, a public utility may terminate service to a residential
				 customer, if:
1. The customer fails within a
				 reasonable time to pay any proper utility bill rendered in accordance with
				 tariffs on file with the Public Utilities Commission, or fails to pay the
				 undisputed portion of a bill that is subject to dispute pursuant to §
											1.8(B)     of this
				 Part or
2. The customer violates a
				 rule or regulation of the public utility on file with the Public Utilities
				 Commission or
3. Disconnection is
				 necessary for reasons of health, safety, or state or national emergencies
				 or
4. The customer fails within a
				 reasonable time to make a payment pursuant to, or otherwise fails to abide by,
				 the terms of any agreement approved by the Public Utilities Commission, the
				 Administrator of the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, a designee of the
				 Public Utilities Commission or Administrator of the Division of Public Utilities
				 and Carriers or an order issued pursuant to these regulations or
5. The customer fails within a reasonable time
				 to make a payment pursuant to, or otherwise fails to abide by, the terms of a
				 residential payment plan to which the customer has agreed.
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-10-00-1.4 - Insufficient Reasons for Termination

Current through June 14, 2024
A. The following
				 shall not constitute sufficient grounds for termination of utility service:
1. Customer's failure to pay for merchandise,
				 appliances, or rentals or service calls on rentals,
2. Customer's failure to pay for concurrent
				 service received at a different metering point, residence or location,
3. Customer's failure to pay for a different
				 class or type of utility service received at the same or a different location,
				 provided that where more than one meter is employed at the same location for the
				 purpose of obtaining preferential rate treatment, such service shall be construed
				 as one service class or type.
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-10-00-1.6 - Disconnection

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Service shall not be disconnected on any
				 Friday, Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday, or day before any legal holiday, or at
				 any time when the public utility's business offices are not open for business.
				 Service may be disconnected only between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. of
				 the date specified in the notice or within a reasonable number of days
				 thereafter. The utility shall have personnel available until 5:00 p.m. or three
				 (3) hours after the time of shutoff, whichever is later, authorized to reconnect
				 service and enter into agreements pursuant to §
										1.7     of this Part
				 below.
B. When service is
				 disconnected, the individual making the disconnection shall immediately inform a
				 responsible adult that service has been terminated, or, if a responsible adult is
				 not on the premises at the time of disconnection, the individual making the
				 disconnection shall leave on the premises in a conspicuous place a note or letter
				 advising that service has been terminated. A written notice shall also be given
				 to the responsible adult or left on the premises in a conspicuous place advising
				 that service may be restored immediately if:
1.
				 the customer was validly protected from shut-off during the moratorium period as
				 described in §§
											1.4(F) through
				 (I)     or
2. if service is necessary to protect the
				 health, welfare and safety of the residents of the dwelling as described in
				 §
											1.17     of
				 this Part, or
3. upon the customer's
				 enrollment in a residential payment plan or some other payment plan arrangement
				 described in §§
											1.3(B)(4) and
				 (5)     of this Part.
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-10-00-1.7 - Restoration of Service

Current through June 14, 2024
A. If service has
				 been disconnected, the public utility shall restore service promptly:
1. upon the customer's request when:
a. the cause of the disconnection of service
				 has been removed, or
b. satisfactory
				 credit or payment plan arrangements have been made, or
c. the customer was validly protected from
				 shutoff during the utility moratorium period as described in §§
												1.4(F) through
				 (I)     of this Part or
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-10-00-1.8 - Public Utility Responsibilities

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Customer Inquiries
				 Regarding Disconnects
1. The public utility
				 shall provide for an officer or employee to be available and prepared during
				 business hours to handle customers' questions and complaints. Such officer or
				 employee shall be capable of rapidly familiarizing himself with the details of
				 the case and shall be authorized and required to answer thoroughly each of the
				 customer's reasonable inquiries.
2.
				 In handling customer's inquiries regarding disconnects, such officer or employee
				 shall inquire as to the customer's eligibility for the elderly and handicapped
				 protections contained in §
											1.4(K)     of this
				 Part. In handling inquiries regarding disconnects, such employee shall also
				 inquire as to the customer's eligibility for the protections contained in
				 §§
											1.4(B) through
				 (J)     of this Part.
3. Employees responsible for the receiving of
				 customer telephone calls and office visits shall be properly qualified and
				 instructed in the screening and prompt handling of the complaints and service
				 requests to assure prompt reference of the complaint or request to the person or
				 department capable of effective handling of the matter, and to obviate the
				 necessity of the customer's repetition of the entire complaint to employees
				 lacking in ability and authority to take appropriate action.
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-10-00-1.9 - Residential Payment Plans

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Availability of
				 Residential Payment Plans
1. Each gas and
				 electric public utility shall make available to its residential customers for
				 utility service provided at the customer's primary residence a payment plan which
				 averages estimated utility costs over a ten-month or twelve-month period to
				 eliminate, insofar as it is practicable, seasonal fluctuations in utility
				 bills.
2. In the event a rate change
				 approved by the Public Utilities Commission becomes effective while a residential
				 customer is enrolled in and in compliance with a payment plan, the effect of the
				 rate change shall be included ratably over the remainder of the payment plan
				 period. Included with the first adjusted bill, the utility shall provide notice
				 to the customer explaining the reason for the change and showing a calculation of
				 how the utility arrived at the new monthly payment.
3. At the end of the ten-month or twelve-month
				 period, if a residential customer chooses to renew a payment plan, any credit or
				 balance due on the customer's account shall be rolled ratably into the monthly
				 payments due by the customer in the customer's next payment plan. If a
				 residential customer chooses to maintain an account with the public utility but
				 chooses not to re-enroll at the conclusion of a ten-month or twelve-month payment
				 plan, the customer will have the option of having any balance due be collected
				 over a period of up to six months with a minimum payment of $25 per month. Any
				 credit balance will be applied toward current usage until exhausted.
4. The public utility shall inform all
				 residential customers of the availability of such a payment plan at least twice
				 annually, once in October and once, two months prior to the end of the utility
				 termination moratorium period by means of a written statement which describes the
				 payment plan and shall inform each customer who receives a termination notice in
				 accord with §
											1.5     of this Part of the
				 availability of such a payment plan.
5. The requirements of this §
											1.9     of this
				 Part shall not be mandatory with regard to seasonal customers, transient
				 customers or to unpaid balances incurred by a residential customer at that
				 customer's secondary or seasonal residence.
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-10-00-1.10 - Provisions of Residential Payment Plans

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Maximum Terms
The maximum allowable residential payment plan terms that may
					 be required by a gas, water or electric public utility are set out below. Nothing
					 in these Rules and Regulations shall prevent a gas, water or electric public
					 utility from setting up a standard residential payment plan or a payment plan for
					 an individual residential customer with less stringent requirements.
B. Residential Payment Plans - In
				 General
Each gas and electric public utility shall make available
					 residential payment plans that allow a Protected Status Customer, a residential
					 customer qualified for the financial hardship category, or a residential customer
					 who does not qualify for financial hardship or the Protected Status Customer
					 categories, to maintain or restore service in the event that such customer is
					 Eligible for Termination, or such customer's service has been terminated. If a
					 public utility has evidence that a residential customer is a Protected Status
					 Customer or is qualified for the financial hardship category, subject to the
					 terms as outlined below, such residential customer shall be allowed to enroll in
					 one of the residential payment plans, subject to and in accordance with the
					 requirements outlined in §
											1.10(E)(1)     of this Part below, hereinafter
					 entitled "Protected Customer Payment Plans." If a public utility has evidence
					 that a residential customer is not a Protected Status Customer or is not
					 qualified for the financial hardship category, such customer shall be allowed to
					 enroll in one of the residential payment plans as outlined in §
											1.10(E)(2)     of
					 this Part below, hereinafter entitled "Standard Customer Payment
					 Plans".
C. Enrollment
A residential customer shall become enrolled in a residential
					 payment plan upon that customer's
1.
				 agreeing to a Terms of Agreement for Residential Payment Plan (as set forth in
				 §
											1.11     of
				 this Part) that is provided by the public utility, and
2. paying, or arranging for payment of, the
				 initial payment, if any, required under such a Plan. Enrollment shall be
				 available at any time during the year. Subject to the terms of the residential
				 payment plans outlined in §
											1.10     of this Part below,
				 enrollment shall be available prior to a residential customer being Eligible for
				 Termination, subsequent to a residential customer being Eligible for Termination,
				 or subsequent to termination of utility service.
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-10-00-1.11 - Terms of Agreement

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Each Terms of
				 Agreement for Residential Payment Plan shall include a plain statement of each
				 requirement of the payment plan, the exact monthly amounts to be paid by the
				 customer, the date on which such payments are due to be paid and the manner in
				 which payments can be made.
B. The
				 form for the Terms of Agreement for Residential Payment Plan shall be submitted
				 to and approved by the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers prior to its
				 use.
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-10-00-1.13 - Review Procedures

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Informal Review by
				 the Division of Public Utilities
In the event of a dispute between the public utility and the
					 customer which cannot be adjusted with mutual satisfaction after an initial
					 consultation with an employee of the Consumer Section of the Division of Public
					 Utilities and Carriers, the customer or the public utility may request a review
					 by the Administrator of the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers or his
					 designee who shall investigate the complaint, afford each party to the dispute a
					 reasonable opportunity to be heard, and communicate his findings to the parties.
					 During the pendency of such review the utility shall not discontinue service to
					 the customer due to the circumstances out of which the dispute arose. The
					 customer or the public utility may request a review of the disputed issue at any
					 time and the request may be made in any reasonable manner including telephoning
					 the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers.
B. Requests for informal review regarding
				 disputes about the amount or payment of bills must be made within the notice
				 period as defined in §
										1.13(D)     of
				 this Part or, in the case of a dispute regarding other than the amount or payment
				 of bills, within ten (10) days after the public utility action or decision which
				 is disputed.
C. Informal Review
				 Procedure
1. An informal review shall consist
				 of a factual investigation into the dispute by a reviewing officer designated by
				 the Administrator of the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers. Each party to
				 the dispute shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard. Upon
				 completion of the review the reviewing officer shall render a written decision
				 and order.
2. Where a disputed issue
				 involves an outstanding bill for previous residential utility service or a
				 delinquent account and the reviewing officer finds that the debt is owed or that
				 the account is delinquent and the customer does not have and cannot obtain funds
				 to pay the debt or delinquent account in full on demand, the reviewing officer
				 shall mandate the terms and conditions of a deferred payment agreement consistent
				 with the applicable Residential Payment Plan provisions of these Rules and
				 Regulations. Payment terms which are less stringent than the applicable
				 Residential Payment Plan and which allow a customer to pay the outstanding bill
				 in other reasonable installments may be ordered at the discretion of the
				 reviewing officer in extraordinary situations.
3. The informal review shall be completed
				 promptly in all cases where the customer is without service.
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-10-00-1.14 - Hearing

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Any party aggrieved by the decision of a
				 reviewing officer after informal review shall have a right to an evidentiary
				 hearing before a hearing officer designated by the Administrator of the Division
				 of Public Utilities and Carriers to conduct hearings under this section. The
				 hearing officer conducting the hearing shall not have been involved in the
				 informal review or in any other proceeding relating to the current dispute. A
				 request for an evidentiary hearing must be made within ten (10) days of receipt
				 of a decision resulting from informal review. Where a request is made within ten
				 (10) days from the date of mailing the notice of decision after informal review,
				 any termination permitted by the decision and order of the reviewing officer
				 shall be suspended pending the decision and order of a hearing officer under this
				 section. A request for a hearing may be made in any reasonable manner such as by
				 written notice or telephoned request directed to the Division of the Division of
				 Public Utilities and Carriers or its personnel. Upon receipt of a request for an
				 evidentiary hearing, the Administrator shall:
1.
				 Schedule an evidentiary hearing to be held within thirty (30) days or within
				 fourteen (14) days when restoration of services is the subject of the dispute,
				 and
2. Notify all parties and their
				 counsel of the hearing.
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-10-00-1.15 - Jurisdiction to Grant Exception

Current through June 14, 2024
A. The Public
				 Utilities Commission or Administrator of the Division of Public Utilities and
				 Carriers retains the jurisdiction to grant an exception to the provisions of
				 these regulations to any party for good cause shown.
B. Notwithstanding anything in the forgoing, if
				 special circumstances warrant, the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers
				 shall have the authority, after an informal or formal hearing, or after an
				 informal investigation, to require a public utility to adjust the terms of a
				 customer's residential payment plan under either the Protected Customer Payment
				 Plans outlined in §
										1.10(E)(1)     of
				 this Part, or the Standard Customer Payment Plans outlined in §
										1.10(E)(2)     of
				 this Part.
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-10-00-1.16 - Judicial Review

Current through June 14, 2024
The decision and order after evidentiary hearing may be
					 reviewed as set forth in R.I. Gen. Laws Title 39 (as amended), and the State
					 Administrative Procedures Act, R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 42-35 (as
					 amended).
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-10-00-1.18 - Repeal of Prior Regulations

Current through June 14, 2024
All Rules and Regulations Governing the Termination of
					 Residential Electric, Gas and Water Utility Services adopted on prior dates are
					 hereby repealed and superseded by these Rules and Regulations in their
					 entirety.
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-10-00-1.19 - Severability

Current through June 14, 2024
A. The provisions of these Rules shall be
				 severable and if the application of any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision,
				 section or part of these Rules shall be adjudged by any court of competent
				 jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate
				 the application of any other clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or
				 part of this chapter.
B. The
				 provisions of these Rules shall be severable and if the application of any
				 clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or part of these Rules shall be
				 preempted by Federal Law, such preemption shall not affect, impair, or invalidate
				 the application of any other clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or
				 part of this chapter.
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-10-00-1.20 - Appendix A: Rhode Island Median Income (October 1, 2008-September 30, 2009, 72 Federal Register 59.14580)

Current through June 14, 2024
A. RI Median Incomes
				 for Family Sizes is based on a Family of Four at $62,339
Family Size
Family Size Adjustment Factor*
Median Income
Maximum Annual Financial Hardship (75% Median
								Income)
Maximum Quarterly Financial Hardship***
1
52%
$40,658
$30,494
$7,624
2
68%
$53,169
$39,877
$9,969
3
84%
$65,679
$49,259
$12,314
4
100%
$78,189
$58,641
$14,660
5
116%
$90,699
$68,024
$17,006
6
132%**
$103,209
$77,406
$19,351
* To adjust the median income of a family of four for
								a different family size, multiply the median income of $78,189 by the percentages
								set out in this second column.
								 45 C.F.R. §
																96.85.
** For each additional household member above six
								persons add three percentage points to the percentage for a six-person
								household.
*** One-fourth of the maximum annual financial
								hardship income.
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-10-00-1.22 - Appendix C: Termination Symbols

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Gas, Water,
				 Electric Termination Symbols as shown below may be used by public utilities on
				 termination notices:
Click
					 here to view image
Click here to view
					 image
Click here to view
					 image
Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 810 - Public Utilities Commission › Chapter 20 - Telecommunications › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 1 - Regulations Governing Arbitration, Mediation, Review and Approval of Interconnection Agreement (810-RICR-20-00-1) › Section 810-RICR-20-00-1.1 - INTRODUCTION

Current through June 14, 2024
A. The Telecommunications Act of 1996, 47
				 U.S.C. provides for the submission to state commissions for their approval of
				 interconnection agreements between telecommunications carriers and incumbent
				 local exchange carriers. In the event negotiations between these parties fail, in
				 whole or in part, parties may request mediation and/or arbitration from the state
				 commission. The state commission may, to the extent practicable, consolidate
				 proceedings in order to reduce administrative burdens.
B. The Act imposes expedited schedules for
				 commencement of arbitration and for state commission approval of negotiated or
				 arbitrated agreements. In particular, the Act imposes a time limit of nine months
				 from the date a telecommunications carrier requests an interconnection agreement
				 until state resolution by arbitration of any unresolved issues. Once an agreement
				 is submitted for approval, the state commission must act to approve or reject it
				 within ninety days of submission by the parties of an agreement reached through
				 negotiation, and within thirty days of submission of an agreement adopted by
				 arbitration. If the state commission allows these deadlines to lapse, the
				 agreement is to be deemed approved.
C. In light of the necessity for expeditious
				 action under the Act, parties are urged to pursue negotiated resolutions of the
				 issues involved in interconnection agreements. The advantages to solutions
				 crafted by the parties themselves, the success of recent collaborative processes,
				 the efficacy of the mediation process for resolution of the complex issues
				 involved, the ongoing litigation on regulated issues, and the time constraints of
				 the Act all suggest the benefits of a negotiated resolution.
D. These following regulations are intended to
				 implement
				  47 U.S.C. §
											252, and govern the arbitration,
				 mediation, review and approval of interconnection agreements between
				 telecommunications providers, in order to facilitate orderly
				 decision-making.
Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 810 - Public Utilities Commission › Chapter 20 - Telecommunications › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 1 - Regulations Governing Arbitration, Mediation, Review and Approval of Interconnection Agreement (810-RICR-20-00-1) › Section 810-RICR-20-00-1.3 - PRELIMINARY MATTERS

Current through June 14, 2024
A. The following
				 requirements are prerequisites for opening negotiations for interconnection
				 agreements between an ILEC and other carriers.
1. Any telecommunications carrier may open
				 negotiations with an incumbent ILEC for an interconnection agreement at any time.
				 However, the carrier may not request mediation or arbitration, or submit a
				 negotiated agreement for review, unless it agrees to bear a pro rata share of the
				 costs of the proceeding.
2. The
				 carrier seeking interconnection shall notify the ILEC in writing, and all
				 statutory deadlines and deadlines in these rules shall be counted from the date
				 of the ILEC's receipt of the notification. The ILEC shall inform the Commission,
				 periodically or on request, of all pending requests for interconnection and the
				 dates on which they were received
3.
				 The notification of intent to negotiate shall describe in general terms the
				 services and forms of interconnection requested, but need not include detailed
				 lists or technical detail.
Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 810 - Public Utilities Commission › Chapter 20 - Telecommunications › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 1 - Regulations Governing Arbitration, Mediation, Review and Approval of Interconnection Agreement (810-RICR-20-00-1) › Section 810-RICR-20-00-1.4 - MEDIATION

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Mediation may be requested by either party
				 at any time during the negotiation.
1. Mediation
				 may be offered by a member of the staff, or an outside mediator acceptable to
				 both parties and the Commission. The mediator shall decide the form that
				 mediation will take, considering the desires of the parties and the nature of the
				 disagreement.
2. The request for
				 mediation shall be in writing, briefly stating the issue or issues to be
				 mediated, and with a synopsis of the position of each party. It will be served on
				 the other party or parties to the negotiation in accordance with the Commission
				 Rules no later than the day it is delivered to the Commission.
3. The mediator may act formally or informally,
				 without regard to procedural provisions elsewhere in our rules. The mediator may
				 accept ex parte presentations from the parties. The mediator may use any methods
				 of dispute resolution that he or she finds appropriate to the circumstances. The
				 mediator may request information in writing or interview the technical and legal
				 experts of the parties separately, or may have them engage in a panel discussion
				 to reach agreement.
4. Mediations
				 will normally be conducted in private, though observers may be present if both
				 parties and the mediator consent.
5.
				 All parties shall respond to reasonable requests for information in a timely
				 manner, delivering the information requested in the form requested. If a party
				 fails to provide the requested information in a timely manner, the mediator and
				 the Commission may use the best information they can obtain from any source,
				 without regard to rules of evidence. The mediator may also refer the matter to
				 the Commission for consideration as a failure to negotiate in good
				 faith.
6. Information and positions
				 adopted or provided during a mediation should be kept confidential, and are not
				 binding on any party if the dispute is ultimately arbitrated.
7. Mediators may not participate in or decide
				 arbitrations which follow unsuccessful attempts to resolve a matter through
				 mediation.