Linda D. George

The Commission held an open meeting to deliberate on various regulatory dockets. Key agenda items included voting to grant multiple motions to intervene in the Narragansett Electric d/b/a Rhode Island Energy application for electric and gas base distribution rate changes. Additionally, the Commission reviewed and unanimously approved a consent agenda that included applications for eligibility as renewable energy resources for several solar generation units and a tariff filing by Verizon Rhode Island regarding the sunsetting of specific telecommunications services.

The Commission deliberated on Docket No. 25-19-EL regarding The Narragansett Electric d/b/a Rhode Island Energy, specifically concerning the Green Button Connect, Home Area Network, and Grid Edge Computing plans; the Commission granted in part and denied in part a request for an evidentiary hearing and denied a motion to strike testimony. Additionally, the Commission approved motions to intervene filed by the Town of South Kingstown and the Town of Narragansett in Docket No. 25-30-WW involving Veolia Water Rhode Island, Inc. Finally, the Commission approved the Consent Agenda, which included three applications for eligibility as Renewable Energy Resources.

The commission reviewed and voted on several dockets, including Rhode Island Energy's 2025 Contact Voltage Annual Report and the 2026 Renewable Energy Standard Procurement Plan. Approval was granted for protective treatment of confidential information related to the 2026 RES Plan. The consent agenda included various applications for renewable energy resource eligibility from companies such as Sunnova Energy, Ameresco, MEVS ASA, Down East Renewable Energy, and Sharpe Solar. Additionally, the commission addressed tariff filings from Verizon Rhode Island and a telecommunications service provider application from Zayo Network Services.

The Energy Facility Siting Board agenda includes discussion and potential rulings on three dockets filed by The Narragansett Electric Company (Rhode Island Energy). Docket SB-2026-01 concerns a proposed 0.13-mile 115 kV Tap line near the Wickford Junction Substation, requiring consideration of whether it constitutes an alteration of a major energy facility and its potential environmental impact. Docket SB-2025-04 involves the rebuild of existing F184N-4/5 and E183-3 115kV transmission lines between Warren and the Bristol substation, also subject to major facility alteration and environmental impact review. Docket SB-2025-02 involves the rebuild of Q143S/R144 kV transmission lines over approximately 11.5 miles between Providence and North Smithfield, for which the Board will consider pending motions to intervene and advisory opinions from agencies.

The Open Meeting addressed several dockets. In Docket No. 25-38--GE, the Commission set the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Enhancement Charge Rate for 2026 at $0.78 per month, following a recommendation from the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, ensuring the annual collection remains within the mandated limits. In Docket No. 25-44-EL concerning Rhode Island Energy's Last Resort Service (LRS) rates for the Industrial Group, the Commission approved the motion for protective treatment of confidential information and subsequently approved the proposed base LRS rates for the period of January 1, 2026, through March 31, 2026. For Docket No. RES-25-59, the Commission approved Town Square Energy, LLC's motion to waive the filing of final Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) for the 2024 Compliance Year, allowing RECs inadvertently retired in a Connecticut account to count toward the obligation. The Commission also discussed the next procedural steps following the release of the evaluation report regarding Rhode Island Energy's billing systems, though no votes were taken on this matter. Finally, items on the Consent Agenda, including applications for eligibility as Renewable Energy Resources and an application for authority as a Telecommunications Service Provider, were unanimously approved.