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4/6/2026
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MEDIA ADVISORY: House Corporations Committee to hear testimony on several bills related to public utilities
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STATE HOUSE — The House Committee on Corporations will meet tomorrow to hear testimony on legislation, including bills related to public utilities.
The committee will meet Tuesday, April 7, at the rise of the House (about 5 p.m.) in the House Lounge on the second floor of the State House.
The committee will hear the following bills:
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2026-H 7112 —This bill, introduced by Rep. John J. Lombardi (D-Dist. 8, Providence), would provide that any rate increase with respect to electric distribution companies would be no greater than the increase in the Consumer Price Index or 5.5%, whichever is greater, unless there is approval of a higher rate by the General Assembly.
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2026-H 7138 — This bill, introduced by Rep. John J. Lombardi (D-Dist. 8, Providence), would enable the Rhode Island public transit authority to work with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority to allow commuter rail passes to be used as dual passes for both RIPTA and MBTA.
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2026-H 7270 — This bill, introduced by Rep. June S. Speakman (D-Dist. 68, Warren, Bristol), would require the Public Utilities Commission to provide for a classification of service for retail electricity consumers that are large energy use facilities.
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2026-H 7331 —This bill, introduced by Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly), would require that certain data centers requiring large amounts of electricity be required to fund the cost of necessary infrastructure improvements to supply such electricity.
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2026-H 7332 — This bill, introduced by Rep. Raymond A. Hull (D-Dist. 6 Providence, North Providence), would require all public utilities to maintain a customer service facility within the state to perform services such as addressing customer inquiries and accepting bill payments.
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2026-H 7524 — This resolution, introduced by Rep. Richard R. Fascia (R-Dist. 42, Johnston, Cranston), would urge the governor to support and take action to expand the natural gas pipeline capacity into New England.
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2026-H 7610 — This bill, introduced by Rep. Charlene M. Lima (D-Dist. 14, Cranston, Providence), would require the PUC to produce report on comprehensive study by April 30, 2027.
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2026-H 7612 — This bill, introduced by Rep. Cherie L. Cruz (D-Dist. 58, Pawtucket), would extend the forbearance of utility terminations for customers with serious illness certifications and would amend various provisions related to the termination of utility services for persons who are disabled, seriously ill, or in arrears.
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2026-H 7871 — This bill, introduced by Rep. Alex S. Finkelman (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown), would allow the state to require utilities to relocate facilities for certain highway projects and to pay the cost of the relocation to the utility as part of the cost of the federally aided highway project.
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2026-H 7872 — This bill, introduced by Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly), would establish civil penalties for extended service interruptions by water suppliers. These penalties would be in addition to other available remedies and damages.
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2026-H 7877 — This bill, introduced by Rep. Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston), would establish minimum energy and water efficiency standards for appliance and specified equipment purchased or installed after Jan. 1, 2025.
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2026-H 7880 — This bill, introduced by Rep. Scott A. Slater (D-Dist. 10, Providence), would create an income-sensitive tiered subsidy program to ensure that home energy utility costs are affordable for eligible low-income households.
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2026-H 7881 — This bill, introduced by Rep. Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston), would prohibit public utilities, serving greater 100,000 customers from recovering through rates any direct or indirect cost associated with, amongst other costs, advertising, marketing, communications.
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2026-H 7882 — This bill, introduced by Rep. Stephen M. Casey (D-Dist. 50, Woonsocket), would require any public utility company that needs to close any state or municipal roadway for work to provide notice to all residential and business property owners located within 1,000 feet of the closed highway at least 48 hours before the road closure.
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2026-H 7883 — This bill, introduced by Rep. Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston), would provide amendments to procedures necessary for approval of transactions between utilities by giving the public utilities commission jurisdiction; mandates public hearings, allows intervention by any interested party and provides for appeal.
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2026-H 7885 — This bill, introduced by Rep. Enrique George Sanchez (D-Dist. 9, Providence), would define that a conspicuous display is a visual illustration showing each component of the utility bill and the cost associated with each component of said bill.
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2026-H 7886 — This bill, introduced by Rep. David Morales (D-Dist. 7, Providence), would require quarterly reading of electric and gas meters.
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2026-H 7887 — This bill, introduced by Rep. Megan L. Cotter (D-Dist. 39, Exeter, Hopkinton, Richmond), would direct the Public Utilities Commission to establish a standardized framework for determining authorized common equity ratios and authorized rates of returns on equity for public utilities.
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2026-H 7888 — This bill, introduced by Rep. Megan L. Cotter (D-Dist. 39, Exeter, Hopkinton, Richmond), would provide that effective July 1, 2026, the profit margin of any electric distribution company or distributor of natural gas, would not exceed 4% in any given calendar year.
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2026-H 8127 — This bill, introduced by Rep. Teresa A. Tanzi (D-Dist. 34 South Kingstown, Narragansett), would amend the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority board composition by adding the Rhode Island Climate Community to the groups given due consideration for appointment to the board.
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2026-H 8361 — This bill, introduced by Rep. Robert E. Craven (D-Dist. 32, North Kingstown), would establish the Rhode Island towing advisory board, to provide advice to the DPUC regarding the DPUC's regulation of tow truck operators.
The Committee on Corporations is chaired by Rep. Joseph J. Solomon Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Warwick. The meeting will be live streamed at capitoltvri.cablecast.tv.
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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