“Rhode Island Energy Rates Spark Controversy: Residents Fight Back Against Soaring Costs”
The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission has approved Rhode Island Energy’s proposed summer rates for residential customers, offering relief after a winter of high energy bills. However, the new rates have sparked backlash from community members concerned about the surging electric rates. State Rep. Megan Cotter has co-sponsored legislation to fund customers’ participation in hearings about ratemaking and other energy issues before the RIPUC.
During a public comment hearing for the proposed summer rates, residents packed the RIPUC office in Warwick, with protestors outside calling for action on rising energy costs. Energy bills this past winter nearly doubled for average customers in the state, jumping from $100 to $168. While summer rates will be lower, increases in distribution and transmission rates will still make prices unaffordable for many residents.
The approved summer rates are the highest in the past eight years, at about $142 for an average residential customer. Residents at the public hearing expressed concerns about steep increases in their energy bills, with some reporting bills skyrocketing from $100 to $400 in just a few months.
Rep. Cotter, a Democrat focusing on energy justice, highlighted the growing concerns among customers about energy rates. Middle-class ratepayers, not eligible for low-income relief programs, are facing a significant burden with rising energy costs. Community members feel their concerns have been ignored by the PUC.
To address the lack of resources for community members to participate in energy decision-making processes, Cotter, along with the Acadia Center and the Conservation Law Foundation, introduced legislation for an intervenor support program. This program would provide grants for individuals or organizations to participate in evidentiary hearings at the RIPUC and the Energy Facility Siting Board.
Advocates for the program emphasize the need for equitable access to the regulatory process, as utility companies and regulators have resources to engage in legal proceedings, while impacted communities often lack the necessary support. The proposed program aims to level the playing field and ensure that all voices are heard in energy decision-making.
The bill has been met with optimism by supporters, who believe it will enhance public engagement in the regulatory process. Cotter sees the intervenor support program as the first step in a broader effort to reform Rhode Island’s energy system, including proposals to cap utility profits and explore the possibility of a state-run utility.
The proposed legislation follows similar efforts in neighboring states and aims to address the challenges faced by Rhode Island customers in navigating energy costs and renewable energy development. By providing resources for intervenors, the program seeks to empower communities to have a say in decisions that directly impact them.
As the bill moves through the legislative process, advocates are hopeful that it will pass and provide much-needed support for Rhode Island residents struggling with energy costs. Cotter believes that bold action is necessary to address the energy challenges facing the state and ensure a more equitable and sustainable energy future for all residents.