H 7610Energy Efficiency

Public Utilities and Carriers - Public Utilities Commission

This bill funds a study to find ways to reduce electricity and gas rates for Rhode Island residents.

Held for study

Population
Affected

Introduced Feb 11, 2026Committee House Corporations

Plain-English Summary

This legislation mandates that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (DPUC) conduct a comprehensive study to identify methods for lowering electric and gas rates in Rhode Island. The bill appropriates $100,000 for consultants to assist with this research, which is due by April 30, 2027. The study will compare Rhode Island's rates with other states, review existing energy programs that increase costs, and recommend terminating policies that inflate bills. Additionally, it suggests requiring "energy notes" on future legislation to disclose potential impacts on energy costs.

For younger readers

This new rule asks the state government to do a big homework project to figure out why electricity and gas cost so much money for families. The government is giving $100,000 to hire experts to help study this. They want to look at what other states are doing to keep their prices low. They also want to find out if any current rules are making energy too expensive and get rid of them. The goal is to lower the bills that parents pay to keep the lights on and the house warm.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Rate PayersPublic Utilities CommissionDivision of Public Utilities and CarriersRenewable Energy Program AdministratorsEnergy Consultants

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

$0.06

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Potentially reduces the financial burden on low-income households who spend a disproportionate amount of their income on utility bills, thereby increasing their disposable income for other necessities.
Increases transparency regarding the composition of energy rates, allowing the public to better understand exactly what programs and policies they are funding through their monthly bills.
Encourages a comparative analysis with other states, which could identify best practices for maintaining essential utility services at affordable rates for the community.
Explicitly targets energy programs that add to costs for potential termination, which could threaten vital renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives that are funded through ratepayer surcharges.
Focuses heavily on cost reduction without explicitly protecting climate goals, risking a rollback of environmental progress in favor of short-term financial savings.
The implementation of "energy notes" could create political hurdles for future progressive environmental legislation by highlighting immediate costs while failing to account for long-term social and environmental benefits.

For Conservatives

Seeks to directly lower the cost of living and doing business in Rhode Island by identifying and eliminating government policies that artificially inflate energy prices.
Promotes fiscal responsibility and legislative accountability by recommending "energy notes," ensuring that the cost impact of future regulations is transparent to taxpayers before laws are passed.
Initiates a review of government bureaucracy and existing programs to identify waste and inefficiency, specifically looking to cut programs that do not provide value commensurate with their cost.
Appropriates $100,000 in taxpayer funds to hire outside consultants rather than requiring existing government employees at the PUC and DPUC to perform the analysis.
Delays potential relief for ratepayers until 2027 by mandating a long-term government study instead of taking immediate legislative action to deregulate or cut costs.
Expands the scope of administrative agencies, potentially leading to more bureaucratic oversight rather than purely market-driven solutions for energy pricing.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 22 additions

SECTION 1. Chapter 39-1 of the General Laws entitled "Public Utilities Commission" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 39-1-64. Comprehensive study.

(a) The public utilities commission (PUC), in conjunction with the division of public utilities and carriers (DPUC), shall produce a comprehensive study for the general assembly by April 30, 2027, to be transmitted to the governor, speaker of the house and the senate president.

(b) There shall be an appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the hiring of consultants and experts to help research the study required in subsection (a) of this section. (c)(1) The purpose of this study is to compile a holistic study with the sole intent of ascertaining the best ways to lower all energy rates for the consumer including electric and gas. Additionally, the study shall include an investigation of energy rates in other states and see what they are doing, or not doing, to have energy rates lower than what rate payers are paying in Rhode Island. Further, the study shall require the PUC and the DPUC to perform a comprehensive review of all energy programs in Rhode Island that add to the cost of energy, and what programs, if terminated, would reduce energy rates. The study shall be comprehensive and provide a detailed review of Rhode Island energy policies and how we can learn from programs in other states.

(2) The PUC and the DPUC director shall formulate a research plan to conduct the study and hire consultants to accomplish the study mission to find the best way to lower Rhode Island energy costs by eliminating policies that add to the energy rates for taxpayers and any other Rhode Island practices that are not transparent as to the added costs that increase energy bills. The PUC shall make recommendations that any legislation that would affect energy costs have an energy note similar to the financial fiscal notes that clearly and transparently show the positive or negative effect the legislation will have on energy costs. Finally, this study shall empower the PUC and DPUC to study any other areas pertinent to the goal of lowering rate payer energy costs.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.