Bill > H772

This bill directs the Department of Public Utilities, a state agency responsible for regulating utility companies, to create new rules and regulations concerning the development of underground utility infrastructure. These rules will aim to protect utility systems from disruptions like storm damage, vandalism, security issues, poor maintenance, or system overloads caused by insufficient capacity. The department is specifically instructed to prioritize creating incentives for utility systems that are discreet, robust, shielded, and underground whenever it is practically possible. Furthermore, the department must develop rules for infrastructure upgrade plans and conduct public hearings every two years to assess the progress, accuracy, and technical viability of these plans.