Section 810-RICR-10-00-1.17 - Restoration of Service by Order of the Public Utilities CommissionA. Emergency Restoration Order: The Administrator of the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers or his designee shall have the emergency authority to order immediate restoration of utility service when restoration of such service is necessary to protect the health, welfare and safety of the residents of the dwelling to which utility service has been terminated. The Administrator's designee under this Section shall not have been involved in prior review of the customer's account.B. If there is no Division of Public Utilities and Carriers employee available to act as the Administrator's designee, the Public Utilities Commission or, in the absence of two or more Commissioners, one Commissioner, may order any utility service immediately restored, pending hearing and decision by the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, when restoration of such service is necessary to protect the health, welfare and safety of the residents of the dwelling to which utility service has been terminated. In considering the request, the Commission will determine whether the requestor has attempted to avoid termination through the procedures set forth in these Rules and will not act as an appellate body to the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers. Further, in addition to obtaining information from the requestor, the Commission will seek input from the utility company and Division of Public Utilities and Carriers prior to making any decision and if quorum exists, will comply with the Open Meetings Laws of the State of Rhode Island.C. An order granting or denying the restoration of services pursuant to §§ 1.17(A) and (B) of this Part, above, shall be issued promptly.D. Restoration Ordered: Referred to Division If utility service is ordered restored pursuant to §§ 1.17(A) and (B) of this Part above, the Public Utilities Commission shall immediately refer the matter to the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers with instructions to hold a hearing and render a decision pursuant to § 1.14 of this Part and shall relinquish jurisdiction of the matter to the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers.
E. Denial of Restoration Any order issued pursuant to §§ 1.17(A), (B), or (C) of this Part above, denying restoration of services shall be subject to the appropriate review procedures set forth in § 1.14 of this Part.
F. Summer Moratorium Every public utility subject to these regulations shall not terminate the service of any residential customer for non-payment on those days for which the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory or excessive heat warning for Rhode Island.
810 R.I. Code R. 810-RICR-10-00-1.17