R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-4-12: Payment of investigation expense by utility.

If, upon a hearing and investigation, it shall be found that any rate, toll, charge, or joint rate or rates is unjust, unreasonable, insufficient, or unjustly discriminatory or preferential or otherwise in violation of any of the provisions of this title, or that any regulation, measurement, practice, act, or service complained of is unjust, unreasonable, insufficient, preferential, or otherwise in violation of any of the provisions of this title, or if it is found that any service is inadequate or that any reasonable service cannot be obtained, the public utility found to be at fault shall, if the commission finds the utility to have knowingly and intentionally violated the provisions, pay the expenses incurred by the division in the investigation and hearing.