2024 lEGISLATION: RESTORE THE VOICE OF THE RATEPAYERS

2024 Legislation | Printer Friendly View

House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale will be submitting legislation to reinstate the Ratepayer Advisory Board --a forum for legislators and public utility executives to fully understand the impacts of their policy proposals before they are implemented. The Board, established in 2011, had two major roles: to review matters related to residential ratepayers; and to report findings back to the General Assembly. It has not met since 2017.

Rhode Island utility customers faced two consecutive years of rate hikes – 47% in 2022 and 24% in 2023. It is critical to have a public body to advocate on behalf the interests of the ratepayers.

“Year after year, Rhode Island electricity and gas consumers faced rate hikes, and year after year, Rhode Island residents tried to express their thoughts on these hikes, but only had the Public Utilities Commission as a body to do so, which is not the proper authority,” said Leader Chippendale.

“In 2011, the Legislature created a Ratepayer Advisory Board as the forum for legislators and public utility executives to hear public comment. Unfortunately, the board has gone dormant and the People’s voices are going unheard. In this era of expensive renewable energy policies, it’s never been more important for the ratepayer to have a direct line of communication with those crafting the policies, where they can be heard and factored into the decision-making process.”

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