§ 39-1-1. Declaration of policy — Purposes. (a) The general assembly finds and therefore declares that: (1) The businesses of distributing electrical energy, producing and transporting manufactured and natural gas, operating water works and furnishing supplies of water for domestic, industrial, and commercial use, offering to the public transportation of persons and property, furnishing and […]
§ 39-1-10. Powers and duties of clerk. The clerk shall have the custody of the seal of the commission; have general charge of the office; keep a full record of its proceedings; file and preserve at its office all documents and papers entrusted to his or her care; prepare such papers and notices as may […]
§ 39-1-11. Proceedings before commission. The commission shall adopt reasonable rules and regulations governing the procedure to be followed in any matter that may come before it for a hearing, and in the hearing the commission shall not be bound by technical rules of evidence. The commission shall sit as an impartial, independent body, and […]
§ 39-1-12. Prehearing procedure — Formulating issues — Copies of exhibits. Prior to the commencement of any formal hearing, the commission may, in its discretion, direct the parties or their attorneys to appear before it for a conference. At or before the conference, the commission may order any party to file a number of copies, […]
§ 39-1-13. Subpoena powers of commissioners. The commissioners are hereby severally authorized and empowered to administer oaths; and the commission, in all cases of every nature pending before it, is hereby authorized and empowered to summon and examine witnesses and to compel the production and examination of papers, books, accounts, documents, records, certificates, and other […]
§ 39-1-14. [Repealed.] History of Section.G.L. 1956, § 39-1-14; P.L. 1969, ch. 240, § 1; Repealed by P.L. 1979, ch. 95, § 1.
§ 39-1-15. Investigators and examiners. For effective administration, supervision, and regulation of public utilities, communications carriers, and common or contract carriers, the administrator, at his or her discretion, may designate examiners, investigators, hearing officers, or one or more agents of the division to make investigations and conduct hearings. In conducting investigations and hearings, the administrator […]
§ 39-1-15.1. Enforcement powers of inspectors. Examiners, field investigators, hearing officers, regulatory inspectors, and other employees of the division designated by the administrator with respect to the enforcement of the provisions of chapters 12 through 14.1 inclusive of this title, shall have and exercise, throughout this state, all powers of police officers including the power […]
§ 39-1-15.2. Enforcement by police departments. The administrator is hereby authorized to avail himself or herself of state, city, and town police departments as are, or may hereafter be, existing by law, to enforce the provisions of chapters 12 through 14.1 inclusive of this title and the rules, regulations, and orders of the administrator made […]
§ 39-1-16. Depositions. In any investigation or hearing conducted by virtue of this title, the person designated to conduct the hearing may cause the deposition of witnesses, wherever residing, to be taken in the manner and used for the purposes prescribed by law for taking depositions in civil actions in the superior court. History of […]
§ 39-1-17. Consumers’ council participation. In any inquiry into, or examination of, any matter wherein tariffs, rates, or charges for, or the cost of, or the quality, standard, or extent of, any service or commodities are requested by the division, and in every formal hearing conducted by the division, the consumers’ council shall be deemed […]
§ 39-1-18. Hearings and records — Certified copies. (a) All hearings and orders of the commission and of the division, and the records thereof, shall be public and any person shall be permitted to record all or any portion of a hearing by way of camera, video, or tape recorder of any kind, unless a […]
§ 39-1-19. Personnel — Legal representation. (a) To carry out the purposes of this title, the commission and the division, within the appropriation therefor, are authorized to employ such clerks, stenographers, engineers, accountants, and agents as may be required, who shall be in the classified service, and may also retain and employ experts, consultants, and […]
§ 39-1-2. Definitions. (a) Terms used in this title shall be construed as follows, unless another meaning is expressed or is clearly apparent from the language or context: (1) “Administrator” means the administrator of the division of public utilities and carriers. (2) “Airport” and “landing field” mean and include all airports and landing fields other […]
§ 39-1-2.1. Presumption of in-state use or intrastate commerce upon use or transportation of liquefied natural gas within the state. Whereas it is in the public interest of the state that the personal safety of its inhabitants and visitors be protected, and that property situated within the borders of the state be safeguarded, and whereas […]
§ 39-1-20. Assistance for investigations and hearings. Whenever the commission or the division shall conduct an investigation or hearing upon a proposal by a public utility to increase its rates, tolls, or charges, or to issue stocks, bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, or to merge or consolidate with another company, it may employ […]
§ 39-1-21. Access to premises of utility. The commissioners, the attorney general, and the agents of the division, as provided in §§ 39-1-15 and 39-1-20, while engaged in the performance of their duties, may, at all reasonable times, enter any premises, buildings, cars, plant, or equipment, or other places belonging to, or controlled by, any […]
§ 39-1-22. False returns. A company subject to the supervision of the commission or division that furnishes it with a sworn or affirmed report, return, or statement, that the company knows or should know contains false figures or information regarding any material matter lawfully required of it, and any company that fails within a reasonable […]
§ 39-1-23. Administrative expenses — Assessment against utilities. (a) The administrator shall aggregate the expenses of the division, including expenses incurred by the attorney general pursuant to § 39-1-19 and expenses incurred by the commission, for each upcoming fiscal year and shall apportion and assess these expenses among the state’s regulated utilities based upon approved […]
§ 39-1-23.1. Motor carrier enforcement program created — Recovery of expenses through a percentage of fines collected from motor carriers. (a) The administrator has been charged under this title with the responsibility of promoting adequate, economical, and efficient service by motor carriers and reasonable charges therefore without unjust discriminations, undue preferences, or advantages, or unfair […]
