Skip to main content
S2074APublic Services

Public Utilities and Carriers - Regulatory Powers of Administration

This bill requires electric companies to include a visual illustration on customer bills showing a breakdown of all charges.

Introduced37 Yea1 Nay0 Not voting
Population
Affected
85
Email Legislator
Introduced Jan 16, 2026Committee Senate Commerce

Plain-English Summary

This bill requires electric distribution companies to include a visual illustration on customer bills that clearly breaks down the different costs making up the total charge. This visual breakdown must show components like the cost of electricity supply, distribution, transmission, taxes, and ratepayer-funded programs. Companies have six months to implement a temporary version of this visual display on their bills, and up to three years to fully roll out the permanent revised bill format.

For younger readers

When your parents get their electricity bill, it lists a bunch of different numbers and fees that can be hard to read. This bill makes a new rule for electric companies. They will now have to add a picture, like a pie chart or a graph, right on the bill. This picture will clearly show exactly where the money is going, like how much pays for the electricity itself, how much pays for the wires that bring it to the house, and how much goes to taxes.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Electric utility customersElectric distribution companiesUtility regulatorsNonregulated power producersLow-income households
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely. This bill simply regulates consumer billing transparency for public utilities, which falls well within the state's established regulatory authority over utility companies. It does not infringe upon free speech, due process, or protection from unreasonable searches and seizures.

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Increases transparency for consumers by mandating clear, visual breakdowns of utility costs, empowering working-class families to better understand their monthly expenses.
  • Highlights ratepayer-funded programs visually, which can help educate the public on the specific costs supporting energy efficiency and low-income assistance programs.
  • Forces corporate utility monopolies to be more accountable and straightforward in their billing practices, preventing them from hiding excessive fees in confusing text.
  • Allows electric companies up to three years to fully implement the finalized bill format, which delays meaningful, permanent transparency for consumers.
  • Does not actually reduce utility costs or provide any direct financial relief to low-income households struggling to pay their electric bills.
  • Could result in utility monopolies passing the administrative and software costs of redesigning the bills onto consumers, marginally increasing rates for vulnerable populations.
For Conservatives
  • Exposes hidden taxes and government-mandated fees ("ratepayer funded programs and policy") through a clear visual illustration, empowering consumers with knowledge of regulatory costs.
  • Promotes free-market transparency by ensuring consumers have a precise breakdown of what they are paying for, enabling them to make more informed financial decisions.
  • Holds utility monopolies accountable by forcing them to clearly separate the actual cost of power from transmission and distribution costs rather than obscuring them in fine print.
  • Imposes an unnecessary regulatory mandate on private businesses, dictating the exact formatting and design they must use for customer communications.
  • Forces utility companies to absorb the administrative and software costs of redesigning their billing systems, which could negatively impact corporate profitability.
  • Expands bureaucratic oversight by requiring companies to consult with a government division on the development of their bill format, interfering with private operations.

Votes

Loading votes...

Full Bill Text

2 versions
Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 10 additions

SECTION 1. Section 39-3-37.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-3 entitled "Regulatory Powers of Administration" is hereby amended to read as follows: 39-3-37.3. Informational notice on electric bills — Electric distribution company.

(a) Every electric distribution company that shall charge for the distribution of electricity to any house, building, tenement, or estate shall conspicuously display upon the bill or statement for any customer the following information:

(1) The total number of kilowatt hours consumed;

(2) The total cost of distributing the consumer power to the customer;

(3) Transition charges;

(4) Conservation costs;

(5) The total cost of transmitting the consumed power to the appropriate distribution site;

(6) All applicable credits;

(7) Applicable streetlight rental costs;

(8) Applicable taxes;

(9) The cost of power delivered; and

(10) All other costs, charges, or fees added to the bill or statement.

(b) The electric distribution company shall issue a single bill for electric service to all customers in its service territory; provided however, that customers of nonregulated power producers may request that the nonregulated power producers provide separate bills for electricity supply.

(c) For purposes of this section, “conspicuously display” means including a visual illustration showing each component of the utility bill and the cost associated with each component including, but not limited to, supply, distribution, transmission, ratepayer funded programs and policy, taxes and all other costs. The electric distribution company shall consult with the division in the development of the bill format.

(d) Any utility bill that requires a revision to comply with the provisions of this section may be implemented no later than three (3) years following the passage of this act; provided further, a temporary version of the utility bill with the conspicuous display shall be implemented no later than six (6) months following the passage of this act.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.