Rhode Island creates grant program to cover legal and expert fees for public utility and energy siting intervenors

Original title: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION -- THE EQUITABLE PARTICIPATION IN UTILITY REGULATION ACT (Creates an intervenor compensation program to provide compensation in the form of grants for legal fees, expert witness fees, and other reasonable costs to an intervenor in both, energy siting board and public utilities commission proceedings.)

Last action · April 28, 2026: Committee recommended measure be held for further studySponsors: Jennifer Stewart and 3 others

Companion · S 2727same policy, Senate version

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Rhode Island establishes an compensation program providing grants for legal fees, expert witness fees, and other reasonable costs to participants in Public Utilities Commission and proceedings.

Why it matters

Changes how public utility proceedings are funded by shifting a portion of outside participant costs onto the regulatory framework, affecting ratepayers, utilities, and consumer advocates engaging in state energy decisions.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Public utility intervenors

Intervenors become eligible to receive grant funding for legal fees, expert witness fees, and other reasonable costs in regulatory proceedings.

Directly affected

Public Utilities Commission

The commission must administer or account for the new intervenor compensation program within its proceedings.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to receive grants under the new compensation program?

s participating in Public Utilities Commission and proceedings are eligible to receive grants for legal fees, expert witness fees, and other reasonable costs.

Which state bodies are covered by the intervenor compensation program?

The program covers proceedings in both the Public Utilities Commission and the .

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

3 actions

Apr 28, 2026
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Apr 24, 2026
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/28/2026)
Feb 27, 2026Introduced
Introduced, referred to House Corporations

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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