Summer Rate To Bring Drop In Rhode Island Electric Bills

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Islanders' electricity bills are expected to be smaller in the coming months, after the state switched to the lower summer rate. The decrease is due to National Grid's annual transition to the summer rate.

For residents, rates dropped from 9.568 cents/kWh to 7.237 cents/kWh. For residents using 500 kWh per month, that would be a bill decrease of about $12 per month, or about 10 percent. Commercial customers, meanwhile, will see a drop from 8.150 cents/kWh to 5.667 cents/kWh, with bill decreases of about 9.7 percent to 12 percent, depending on usage.

"We are pleased that our customers will be able to benefit from lower electricity supply rates this summer," said Terry Sobolewski, the president of National Grid Rhode Island. "However, we remain extremely sensitive to the economic challenges many of our customers are facing for the first time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic ... We want to give our customers peace of mind by helping them immediately with the unique challenges they may be facing."

The new rates will be in effect from April 1 through Sept. 30 for residents and businesses, and through June 30 for industrial customers.

"We remain focused on balancing the commitments of affordability, reliability, and safety for our customers as they face the real hardships brought on by the COVID-19 crisis," Sobolewski continued. "While we can’t control the cost of the energy supply, we want our customers to take advantage of managing their bills during the pandemic."