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House Passes Retail Electric Consumer Bill of Rights (Advance Notice of Rate Increases)
June 10,2015 The Rhode Island House has passed H 5978, dubbed the electric consumer bill of rights The bill awaits action in the Senate Among other things, the passed version of the bill provides that no retail supplier (aka nonregulated power producer), "shall charge an electric generation service rate to a residential customer that is twenty-five percent (25%) more than the original contract price, or the last rate notification provided by the nonregulated power producer, without disclosing the rate change described in this section fifteen (15) days before it takes effect." "Such disclosure shall be in writing and shall conform to any rules that may be promulgated by the division," the bill provides The bill also requires new standard contract summary forms, which shall be developed by the PUC, which shall include among other things the "expiration date" of the customer's rate. Contracts would be required to include, "a statement that provides specific directions to the customer as to how to compare the price term in the contract to the customer's existing electric generation service charge on the electric bill and how long those rates are guaranteed" The bill would limit residential early termination fees to no more than fifty dollars ($50.00), or twice the estimated bill for energy services for an average month, whichever is less. The bill would require a redesign of retail electric customer bills to list the standard offer service price to compare with the date of the next expected rate change, and the date by which a customer’s nonregulated power producer must initiate the transfer of service in order for the transfer to be complete by the next meter read date. The bill would direct the PUC to conduct further rulemaking to develop more specific solicitation and marketing rules The bill would require the PUC to develop an electricity rate board and price comparison website. The cost of such website, "shall be funded through an assessment on any obligated entity, as such term is defined in § 39-26-2, but excluding electric distribution companies, in a manner governed by division regulation," the bill provides. Regarding the rate board, retail suppliers, "shall make available to the division and the provider of the Internet website facilitated by the division on a monthly basis ... All of its offerings currently available." (emphasis added) The bill also provides that, "No third-party agent may sell electric generation services on behalf of a nonregulated power producer unless the third-party agent is an employee or independent contractor of such nonregulated power producer, and the third-party agent has received appropriate training directly from such nonregulated power producer." The bill would provide that nothing shall prohibit a residential customer who moves from one dwelling to another dwelling within the state from immediately receiving electric generation service from a nonregulated power producer, provided such customer was receiving such service from a nonregulated power producer immediately prior to such move The bill would direct the electric distribution company to include in its terms and conditions, subject to review and approval by the PUC, conditions for release of customer information to a nonregulated power producer. The bill would provide that the PUC may initiate a docket to review the feasibility, costs and benefits of placing on standard offer service all customers of all nonregulated power producers who are hardship cases.
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