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SB 2727

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION -- THE EQUITABLE PARTICIPATION IN UTILITY REGULATION ACT

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jonathon Acosta and 9 co-sponsors

Provides fixed, grant-based funding to allow financially constrained intervenors to participate in Rhode Island PUC and Energy Facility Siting Board proceedings.

05/21/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · SB 2727

Overview

SB 2727 (Rhode Island, 2026) establishes an intervenor compensation program for utility and energy-related regulatory proceedings. The goal is to ensure fair participation by individuals or groups who might otherwise be financially unable to meaningfully participate in hearings before the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and the Energy Facility Siting Board. The act creates a dedicated fund, sets grant amounts, and outlines eligibility, administration, and reporting requirements. It applies to certain electric, gas, and energy-efficiency program proceedings.

Main purpose and intent

  • To provide financial support (grants) to intervenors in specified utility and energy siting proceedings.
  • To reduce barriers to participation due to significant financial hardship.
  • To promote informed, diverse participation in regulatory processes, potentially leading to more thorough consideration of consumer interests.

Key provisions and changes

  • Intervenor compensation program (Sections 1 and 3):
    • Creates an “intervenor compensation special fund” within the PUC to fund grants.
    • Grants cover:
    • Legal fees
    • Expert witness fees
    • Other reasonable preparation and participation costs
    • Up to 10% of the grant may cover non-legal/non-expert witness fees
    • Grant amount: $50,000 per intervenor, adjusted every five years for CPI.
    • Grants are strictly for PUC or Energy Facility Siting Board proceedings; not eligible for judicial appeals.
    • Annual appropriations to maintain the fund balance at $300,000 (adjusted for CPI); excess funds return to the general fund.
    • Commission may hire up to 10% of the fund balance for administrative consultants.
  • Eligibility and administration (Sections 1 and 3):
    • Grants awarded to:
    • Individuals or organized groups that meet intervention standards
    • 501(c)(3) organizations
    • Applicants must demonstrate significant financial hardship if not funded.
    • Proceedings eligible:Electric distribution companies serving 100,000+ customers, electric transmission, gas distribution, and energy efficiency programs.
    • Process for grants:
    • Applicants must notify the commission of seeking funding and provide required documentation.
    • Reviews occur for completeness; deficiencies notified within 10 days.
    • Not a contested issue by non-governmental parties.
    • Funding decisions within 30 days of complete application.
    • Written determination of approval; funds disbursed within 30 days after approval.
    • Provisions for timelines and alternative timelines in statutory proceedings.
    • Grant conditions:
    • Grantees cannot withdraw from the proceeding.
    • A report detailing grant expenditures due within 30 days after a written order.
    • Funds must be used only for proceedings before the commission; cannot be used to appeal final decisions.
    • Excess funds returned to the intervenor fund if spending is less than the grant.
  • Energy Facility Siting Act alignment (Sections 2 and 4):
    • Adds a parallel intervenor compensation program to the Energy Facility Siting Board proceedings, with essentially identical structure and requirements (50,000 grant, 5-year CPI adjustments, eligibility, reporting, and use restrictions).
    • Creates an energy facility siting account to support board-related operations, including funding for intervenor grants.
  • Effective date: Takes effect upon passage.

Who would be affected

  • Intervenors in:
    • PUC proceedings involving electric distribution (100,000+ customers), electric transmission, gas distribution, and energy efficiency programs.
    • Energy Facility Siting Board proceedings.
  • Eligible participants include:
    • Individual applicants or unorganized groups acting on behalf of individuals
    • 501(c)(3) organizations
  • Utilities and energy projects may see changes in the dynamics of participation, as financially constrained parties gain access to funds for litigation, expert testimony, and related costs.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Funding and administration:
    • Annual appropriation to maintain a $300,000 balance (adjusted for CPI); excess to general fund.
    • Up to 10% of fund balance may be used to hire consultants.
  • Grant timeline:
    • Notice and documentation required with an initial 10-day review for deficiencies.
    • 30-day decision window from complete application.
    • Grants paid within 30 days after approval.
  • Reporting and compliance:
    • Grantees must report expenditures within 30 days of a written order.
    • Noncompliance could trigger repayment orders; affected parties may be barred from future funding until satisfied.
  • Jurisdictional scope:
    • The bill explicitly ties funding to specified types of utility and energy siting proceedings in Rhode Island.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Pros:
    • Enhances equitable participation by lower-income or resource-constrained stakeholders.
    • Improves quality of regulatory proceedings through broader input, including consumer advocates and affected communities.
  • Cons:
    • Requires ongoing state funding and administrative oversight; potential initial budgetary impact.
    • Grants are limited to certain large-utility and siting proceedings; smaller customers or other contexts may not be covered.
    • Strict spending and repayment requirements could impact grantee behavior and project planning.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to a specific audience (e.g., policymakers, advocacy groups, or the general public) or provide a comparative analysis with similar intervenor compensation programs in other states.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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