This bill makes several changes to utility base rate advertising, demand-side management, and renewables. It prohibits public utilities from including expenses for advertising that promotes their product or service as part of their base rate, but allows for the inclusion of expenses for informational or educational advertising that promotes public safety or conservation. The bill also establishes charges to fund demand-side management programs for electric and gas distribution companies and provides for the administration of renewable energy programs by the Rhode Island commerce corporation. Additionally, the bill allows for the coordinated and/or integrated administration of electric and gas demand-side management programs.

The bill also amends current law to allocate funds for the retention of expert consultants and administration costs of the energy efficiency and resources management council. It requires a certain percentage of funds to be allocated to the office of energy resources for planning, management, and evaluation of energy-efficiency programs, renewable energy programs, system reliability, and regulatory proceedings. The bill also requires financial and performance reports regarding demand-side management programs to be submitted by the office and the council. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Rhode Island infrastructure bank to request a certain percentage of electric and gas demand-side charge collections from distribution companies and requires a certain amount of funds to be allocated to the infrastructure bank for energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean transportation, clean heating, energy storage, or demand-side management projects. The infrastructure bank is also authorized to establish a clean energy fund for projects related to greenhouse gas reduction or elimination, zero-emission technology, clean transportation, clean heating, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and demand-side management.

Statutes affected:
856: 39-2-1.2, 46-12.2-4.3