H 7886

2026 -- H 7886
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 LC005723
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  STATE  OF        RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  AN ACT
    RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWERS OF
  ADMINISTRATION
  Introduced By: Representatives Morales, Sanchez, Cruz, Potter, and Cotter
  Date Introduced: February 27, 2026
  Referred To: House Corporations
 It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1SECTION 1. Chapter 39-3 of the General Laws entitled "Regulatory Powers of
2 Administration" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
339-3-37.4. Electric and gas meter reading required quarterly.
4(a) Every electric and natural gas distribution public entity shall read, record and update
5 utility billing on a monthly scheduled interval. Bills shall be forwarded within fourteen (14) days
6 of the scheduled record.
7(b) A utility company which estimates bills shall file with the Public Utility Commission
8 (PUC) a statement of their formula used in preparing estimated bills. The PUC has the discretion
9 to approve, reject or modify the proposed formula. Any amendments to the formula shall be
10 subjected to the PUC for review and approval.
11(c) Estimated bills for ratepayers shall consist of charges for utility services calculated in
12 accordance with the formula approved by the PUC.
13(d) Estimated bills shall be submitted to ratepayers for months when the quarterly reading
14 is not scheduled or conducted.
15(e) In the event the utility fails to read the meter on a quarterly basis, they shall not demand,
16 collect, or require payment of any balance in excess of the amount required by the prior estimated
17 monthly bills.
18(f) Any amount otherwise due for use in excess of the estimated monthly bill shall be
1 forfeited for any period in which the electric or natural gas distribution utility failed to read the
2 ratepayer’s meter.
3(g) Meter reading conducted by the utility company shall not be passed on to ratepayers.
4SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026
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  EXPLANATION
  BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
  OF
  AN ACT
  RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWERS OF
  ADMINISTRATION
  ***
1      This act would require quarterly reading of electric and gas meters.
2      This act would take effect on July 1, 2026
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