R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-15.1-1: Purposes.

The purposes of this chapter are to:

(1) Augment current principles for setting the rates of public utilities that are water suppliers that are subject to commission rate regulation in a manner that facilitates:

(i) Managing demand, especially seasonal demand;

(ii) Investing in infrastructure repair and replacement;

(iii) Recovering the full costs, including capital and operational, of water systems through water system revenues; and

(iv) Establishing operating capital and debt service of sufficient size; and

(2) Provide an optional system for multiyear water rates that are adjustable in accordance with an approved rate plan.