This bill, titled the Home Heating Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act, establishes a gas transition customer trust fund to support the transition from gas heating to non-emitting renewable thermal infrastructure projects. The fund will be held by the Rhode Island infrastructure bank and will be used for activities such as replacing gas appliances with electric appliances and upgrading insulation and electric wiring. The bill also allows for the issuance of gas transition bonds by the Rhode Island infrastructure bank to finance these projects.

In addition, the bill amends current law to establish charges per kilowatt-hour delivered to fund demand-side management programs and renewable energy programs for electric distribution companies. The bill requires public utilities to disclose all advertising expenses and prohibits them from including advertising expenses in their base rates, unless the advertising is educational in nature and designed to promote a product or service. The bill also grants the Rhode Island infrastructure bank the authority to administer the gas transition trust fund and recover funds from borrowers in case of default.

Statutes affected:
5623: 39-2-1.2