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2/10/2025
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Media Advisory: Representatives to host legislative briefing on utility rate increases and consumer protections
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STATE HOUSE — Reps. David Morales, Cherie Cruz and Scott A. Slater will host experts on utilities law and consumer protection for a legislative briefing on urgent solutions to address rising utility costs and to protect medically vulnerable households from disconnections on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 3 p.m. in Room 135 on the second floor of the State House.
The public is encouraged to attend.
In addition to the representatives, the panel will include Charlie Harak, senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center; Elizabeth Marx, executive director at the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project; and representatives from the George Wiley Center. They will discuss legislative proposals that stabilize utility costs, prevent harmful shut-offs and reduce state expenditures related to emergency services and housing displacement.
With multiple dramatic utility rate increases in recent years, legislative leadership is needed to support effective, cost-neutral solutions, including a Percentage Income Payment Plan (2025-H 5245) to ensure affordability while maintaining utility company revenues and stronger protections for medically vulnerable consumers to prevent shut-offs that lead to costly emergency services, housing instability and child welfare interventions (2025-H 5068).
These measures do not require State House expenditures but will mitigate the economic and social consequences of utility shut-offs.
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
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