Leo Wold, Assitant Attorney General, Unit chief

The Public Utilities Regulatory Unit assists and provides legal counsel to the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers ("Division") in all proceedings before the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Washington DC), the Rhode Island Energy Facility Siting Board, including appellate proceedings before any court of competent jurisdiction (R.I. Supreme Court, R.I. Superior Court, and the United States Court of Appeals (D.C. Circuit)).

By statute, the Division is responsible for protecting and advocating for all ratepayers of public utilities. The phrase "public utility" is broadly defined under R.I. Gen. L. § 39-1-2 and includes five electric distribution companies (Narragansett Electric Co., Blackstone Valley Electric Co., Newport Electric Corp., Pascoag Fire District, and Block Island Power Company), three natural gas distribution companies (Providence Gas Company, Valley Gas Company and Bristol & Warren Gas Co.), seven water utilities (Providence Water Supply Board, Woonsocket Water, Wakefield d/b/a United Water, Prudence Island Utilities Corp., Newport Water, Pawtucket Water and Kent County Water Authority), one sewage treatment authority (Narragansett Bay Commission), two ferry companies (Interstate Navigation Co. {Block Island} and Prudence Ferry, Inc.), all intrastate telecommunications providers (most notably, Bell Atlantic), and all of the state's towing companies, moving companies, and taxi-cab companies.