RI General Assembly Passes Bill Requiring Utilities To Maintain In-State Customer Service

PROVIDENCE, RI — The Rhode Island General Assembly passed a bill that to require all public utilities to maintain a customer service facility within the state to perform services such as addressing customer inquiries and accepting bill payments.

The bill was sponsored by Deputy Speaker Raymond A. Hull, D-Providence and North Providence, and state Senate Majority Leader Frank A. Ciccone III, D-Providence and Johnston.

“Attempts to lower costs and increase profits for utility companies should never take precedence over the needs of the customers, or the services they provide to those customers," Hull said in a media release.

"We must make sure that Rhode Island customers who buy services from these utilities are properly and adequately served," Hull said. "And unless there is a service center conveniently located within Rhode Island to handle the concerns and needs of the customers, I don’t think they are being well served."

The bill now heads to Gov. Dan McKee for his consideration.

“We still live in a world where not everyone has the ability or desire to pay their utility bills online or by the mail, and customers with questions relating to their utilities may be better serviced face-to-face rather than over the phone," Ciccone said in the release. "This bill gives consumers the service options that they might need or desire and it will be beneficial to those who prefer in-person service."

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