The bill amends Section 39-1-26 of the General Laws concerning the Public Utilities Commission by creating a public utilities reserve fund to support the commission and division in their operational expenses. The fund will be financed through annual appropriations from the General Assembly. Additionally, the bill establishes that public utilities will be responsible for covering a portion of the expenses incurred by the commission and division during investigations and hearings, with a new cap on these charges increased from $750,000 to $1,000,000. Furthermore, the cap on expenses for the commission's representation before federal agencies is raised from $250,000 to $500,000.

The bill also includes provisions for the division of public utilities and carriers to adopt a fee schedule for telecommunications filings, which will be directed to the general fund rather than the public utilities reserve fund. The state controller is authorized to manage the financial transactions related to the fund, ensuring that any unspent revenue from public utilities is reimbursed promptly. Overall, the act aims to enhance the financial framework supporting the Public Utilities Commission and its regulatory functions, taking effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
5547: 39-1-26