Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The state Senate delayed a vote on a bill to regulate gas utility improvements today after National Grid requested more time to propose amendments to the legislation, according to Sen. Paul V. Jabour, the Providence Democrat who sponsored the bill.

The legislation would require that public utilities receive a permit from the local historic district commission prior to conducting upgrade work. For houses outside historic districts, the bill forbids the installation of meters and regulators visible from the street unless there are no alternatives. It also creates an appeals process by which residents can seek a ruling from the state Public Utilities Commission.

Senate Majority Leader Daniel P. Connors (D- Cumberland) agreed to postpone a full Senate vote on the measure, which was recommended for approval by the Senate Committee on Corporations, according to Jabour.

National Grid has protested the idea of creating an appeals process to deal with residents' complaints, saying that it would delay the upgrade process and affect the quality of service the company provides.

While it is unclear what changes National Grid will request, Jabour said the utility had submitted amendments to him prior to the committee vote last week, but he declined to incorporate them.

"They would have basically put us back to square one, with the utility dealing with each resident on a case by case basis and with no provisions for historic homes," said Jabour.

Jabor's bill has strong support in historic neighborhoods in Providence, where residents have fought the upgrade of home gas meters and gas pressure regulators by National Grid.

Residents in West Broadway, Federal Hill and the East Side complained last summer that the gas company did not give adequate notice of the upgrades and installed gas meters and gas-pressure regulators in places that detracted from the historic appearance of the houses.

The same bill has been introduced in the state House of Representatives, where it is sponsored by House Finance Committee Chairman Steven Costantino, D-Providence. A public hearing was held in February by the House Committee on Corporations, and the bill was held for further study.

 Tags  providence ri

Comments

MAS said:

Whatever became of this? Couldn't find an update.

Link | November 5, 2009 6:47 PM
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Utility Consultants said:

Would be interesting to see what happens with this.

Thanks,

Link | November 9, 2009 8:10 PM
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