Rhode Island Gov. Signs Bill Banning Auto-Renewal Of Residential Retail Electric Contracts

July 18, 2019

Email This Story
Copyright 2010-19 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com

The following story is brought free of charge to readers by EC Infosystems, the exclusive EDI provider of EnergyChoiceMatters.com

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo has signed S 399, which bans auto-renewal of residential retail electric contracts.

The new law provides that, on and after August 1, 2019, no nonregulated power producer (retail supplier) shall automatically renew or cause to be automatically renewed a contract with a residential customer; provided however that, a new contract with a residential customer shall be required if the terms for electric generation services change from variable to fixed rates, fixed to variable rates, or to a different fixed rate

The bill also revises statute such that the current written renewal notice required to be sent to residential customers shall now be sent to customers on all product types, and shall list the specific expiration date (currently, the notice is only required for fixed price contracts)

This new law also provides that retail suppliers must provide residential customers with the ability to cancel electricity service electronically, as well as an alternative method for customers without Internet access

The new law provides that the contract with a customer shall include the methods by which a customer may cancel service, which shall include electronic termination of an existing consumer’s service agreement prior to the consumer’s next bill read date so long as the request to disenroll has been made at least seven (7) calendar days in advance of the next bill read date. The electronic termination shall be provided in a clear and conspicuous location on the retail supplier's website, and a method by which a customer without internet access may cancel service

ADVERTISEMENT
NEW Jobs on RetailEnergyJobs.com:
• NEW! -- Energy Contracts Counsel -- Retail Supplier
• NEW! -- Senior Natural Gas Energy Trader -- Retail Supplier
• NEW! -- Operations Manager -- Retail Supplier
• Quality Assurance and Customer Service Manager -- Retail Supplier