RI H7890

Establishes an intervenor compensation program providing grants up to $50,000 (adjusted every 5 years for inflation) to cover legal fees, expert witness fees, and other reasonable costs for individuals and 501(c)(3) organizations participating in Public Utilities Commission and Energy Facility Siting Board proceedings

Creates an "intervenor compensation special fund" with a target balance of $300,000, funded by annual General Assembly appropriations; up to 10% of the fund may be used for program administration

Limits eligibility to intervenors who demonstrate "significant financial hardship" and applies only to proceedings involving electric distribution companies serving over 100,000 customers, electric transmission companies, gas distribution companies, and energy efficiency programs

Requires grant applications be approved or denied within 30 days, with funds disbursed within 30 days of approval; grantees must submit expenditure reports and return unused funds after proceedings conclude

Authorizes the commission to order utilities serving over 100,000 customers to pay up to $100,000 into the fund if it contains insufficient funds, with costs recoverable through rates