Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission

Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission, registered as a U.S. State Government entity with the Unique Entity Identifier HABZKPGAPFG8, operates as a child entity within Rhode Island's governmental structure and is based in Warwick, Rhode Island. The Commission serves as the state's primary regulator for pipeline safety and damage prevention activities, working to protect critical infrastructure and public safety through federal grant support. As a state government agency, the Commission provides specialized regulatory and enforcement services focused on pipeline safety compliance and oversight.

Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission has received consistent federal grant funding from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) since 2021, demonstrating a sustained commitment to pipeline safety initiatives. The entity has received multiple formula grants and project grants supporting both general pipeline inspection and enforcement activities as well as specific one-call damage prevention programs. Most recently, in October 2025, the Commission received a $48,175 project grant specifically designated to support salary and benefits for a dedicated One-Call Engineer who enforces Rhode Island's one-call laws, with this individual dedicating over 60 percent of effort to enforcement activities and handling 50 percent of investigations and 100 percent of enforcement actions related to pipeline damage prevention violations. Additionally, the Commission has been awarded formula grants for reimbursement of intrastate natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline inspection and enforcement activities, and project grants supporting pipeline damage prevention laws, compliance activities, training, and public education benefiting the entire state. All identified grants have been awarded directly to the Commission with no identified subrecipients, indicating that the entity manages and implements these pipeline safety and damage prevention programs internally to improve regulatory compliance and reduce pipeline accidents caused by excavation damage.