Supreme Court of Rhode Island

In re Block Island Power Company Petition for Declaratory Judgment

February 10, 2023

Summary

The Rhode Island Supreme Court reviewed de novo the Public Utilities Commission’s interpretation of the phrase “related facilities” in G.L. 1956 § 39‑26.1‑7(f) and held that the term refers only to equipment purchased by National Grid as part of the transmission‑cable project, excluding Block Island Power Company’s interconnection facilities and backup transformer. Accordingly, those costs are not to be socialized across all Rhode Island ratepayers. The Court affirmed the PUC’s decision and remanded the record.