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HB 8427

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kathleen Fogarty and 4 co-sponsors

The bill requires gas service bills to clearly itemize all cost components and charges in a single, conspicuous format for every customer.

04/28/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 8427

Summary of HB 8427 (Rhode Island, 2026)

Purpose and Intent

HB 8427, introduced April 10, 2026, seeks to increase transparency in gas utility bills. The bill requires gas distribution companies to conspicuously display detailed breakdowns of charges on customer bills and to issue a single consolidated bill for gas service across their service territory. The overarching goal is to provide clearer visibility into the components of gas costs and program-related charges paid by customers.

Key Provisions

  1. Informational Notice on Gas Bills

    • Gas distribution companies must conspicuously display on every customer bill the following components:
      • (1) Total therms consumed
      • (2) Total cost of distributing the gas to the customer
      • (3) Customer charge
      • (4) Conservation costs
      • (5) All applicable credits
      • (6) Charges that support low-income gas customers
      • (7) Applicable taxes
      • (8) All other costs, charges, or fees added to the bill
    • The purpose is to provide a clear, itemized bill that shows every cost component.

  2. Single Bill for Gas Service

    • The gas distribution company must issue a single bill for gas service to all customers within its service territory, promoting uniformity and simplifying billing.

  3. Definition of “Conspicuously Display”

    • The bill must use a visual illustration that shows each component of the utility bill and the associated cost (e.g., supply, distribution, ratepayer-funded programs and policy, taxes, and other costs).
    • The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (referred to as “the division” in the act) would have authority to approve or deny the adequacy of the bill's format to ensure compliance with this provision.

  4. Effective Date

    • The act takes effect upon passage.

Who Is Affected

  • Gas Distribution Companies: Require reformatted bills and issuance of a single consolidated bill for gas service to households and properties within their territory.
  • Gas Customers / Consumers: Stand to gain greater bill transparency through explicit itemization of charges, consumption, credits, and program-related costs.
  • Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities (the regulatory authority): Authorized to review and approve or reject proposed bill formats to ensure compliance with the informational display requirements.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced: April 10, 2026
  • Committee: Referred to House Corporations; status indicates referral and subsequent committee action
  • Recent Action: As of April 28, 2026, the committee recommended the measure be held for further study
  • Effectiveness: Immediate upon passage (no separate phase-in period specified)

Notes on Scope and Impact

  • The bill does not alter the underlying rates or the total energy costs charged to customers; it focuses on the presentation and breakdown of charges on bills.
  • By mandating a single bill format with explicit components, it may affect billing systems, customer communications, and possibly the administration costs borne by gas distribution companies.
  • The emphasis on “conspicuously display” with a visual component could influence how providers design and format statements, potentially affecting consumer comprehension and the perceived transparency of ratepayer-funded programs and credits.

If you would like, I can compare this bill to similar transparency initiatives in other states or provide a plain-language one-page briefing for public distribution.

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

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