# Rhode Island H7879: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- THERMAL ENERGY NETWORK AND JOB ACT . Rhode Island H7879, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- THERMAL ENERGY NETWORK AND JOB ACT ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Terri Cortvriend (Democratic); status became law, last action 2026-06-24 (Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 339) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7879-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Rhode Island H7879 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- THERMAL ENERGY NETWORK AND JOB ACT . - Status: became law - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-27 - Last action: 2026-06-24, Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 339 - Sponsor: Terri Cortvriend (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 4 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (108 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - State sets rules and a taskforce: benefit, medium. The PUC must adopt rules within 18 months to govern thermal energy networks. The rules cover fair access, climate and pollution limits, cost‑effectiveness, rate structures, and training and transition for fossil‑fuel workers. The PUC must consider advice from a 12‑member taskforce it creates. The t… - Utilities must study thermal network sites: benefit, low. Within 12 months, utilities must name 2 to 12 locations for thermal energy studies. Within 18 months, they must start at least two studies. At least one site must be in or directly benefit an environmental justice area. Utilities, towns, and public‑private groups can use state and federal grants an… - Protections on pilot costs for ratepayers: mixed, medium. Utilities can recover reasonable planning and compliance costs only if the PUC approves them as just and reasonable. Utilities must seek grants, tax credits, or low‑cost loans first, and any outside funding reduces what ratepayers pay. After a study, the PUC approves pilot cost recovery only when t… - Gas utilities can run thermal networks: mixed, medium. With PUC approval for each project, gas distribution utilities can build, own, and operate thermal energy networks. They can sell thermal energy and charge customers. Approval is on a project‑by‑project basis and does not grant broad service‑territory control. States, cities, co‑ops, and nonprofits… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Terri Cortvriend (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jennifer Boylan (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: John G. Edwards (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Arthur Handy (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Michelle E. McGaw (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-11 | Senate | PUBLIC UTILITIES/CARRIERS -- THERMAL ENERGY NETWORK JOBS ACT In Concurrence | pass | 38 | 0 | | | 2026-06-09 | House | THERMAL ENERGY NETWORK /JOBS ACT PASSAGE | pass | 70 | 1 | | ## Actions (12) - 2026-06-24: Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 339 (Governor) - 2026-06-16: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-11: Senate passed Sub A in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-06-09: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026) (Senate) - 2026-06-09: House passed Sub A (House) - 2026-06-08: Placed on House Calendar (06/09/2026) (House) - 2026-06-08: Committee recommends passage of Sub A - 2026-06-05: Proposed Substitute - 2026-06-05: Scheduled for consideration (06/08/2026) - 2026-03-19: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-03-13: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/19/2026) - 2026-02-27: Introduced, referred to House Corporations (House) ## Bill text - H7879 - As Introduced, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7879.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7879.pdf) - H7879 - Substitute, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7879A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7879A.pdf) ## Related bills - H8104: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- MORTGAGES OF REAL PROPERTY . (became law) - H8046: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES . (became law) - H8025: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) - H7866: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT . (became law) - H7642: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRICT COURT PRACTICE . (became law) - S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) ## Sources - [H7879 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7879.htm) - [H7879 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7879.pdf) - [H7879 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7879A.htm) - [H7879 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7879A.pdf) ## Related - [H8104: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- MORTGAGES OF REAL PROPERTY .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8104-2026) - [H8046: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8046-2026) - [H8025: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8025-2026) - [H7866: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7866-2026) - [H7642: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRIC…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7642-2026) - [S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3363-2026) - [Rhode Island bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island/bills) - [Rhode Island state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7879-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).