The bill amends sections 39-3-24 and 39-3-25 of the General Laws concerning the regulatory powers of public utilities in Rhode Island. It establishes that the consent and approval of the public utilities commission, rather than the division, is required for transactions between utilities. The bill outlines the process for obtaining this approval, which includes filing a petition that details the purpose of the transaction and its terms.

It emphasizes that the public interest must be considered, including factors such as rates, competitive access to markets, elimination of anti-competitive influences, proper administration and regulation of utility functions, environmental protection, and any other interests addressed in the petition or implicated by the proposed transaction.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the commission allow intervention and advocacy from any citizen, business, or group seeking to represent elements of the public interest related to the proposed transactions. It specifies that participation cannot be denied on the grounds that private commercial interests may also align with public interests or that any public interest is otherwise represented by a public agency or another party.

Furthermore, any orders issued by the commission under this section are subject to appellate review under 42-35-15. The act will take effect upon passage.