House approves Deputy Speaker Hull’s bill requiring utilities to maintain customer service facility in state
STATE HOUSE – The House of Representatives today passed legislation (2023-H 5032) sponsored by Deputy Speaker Raymond A. Hull which would 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.
“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. We must make sure that Rhode Island customers who buy services from these utilities are properly and adequately served. 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,” said Deputy Speaker Hull (D-Dist. 6, Providence, North Providence).
The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration where Sen. Frank A. Ciccone (D-Dist. 7, Providence, Johnston) has introduced the legislation (2023-S 0479).
