04/01/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/01/2026 07:12
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (April 1, 2026) - Rhode Island Energy (RIE) today announced that its proposed decrease to summer electric supply prices has been approved by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (RIPUC). The new rates take effect immediately and will provide meaningful relief for customers following Rhode Island's coldest winter in decades.
RIE's "Last Resort Service" (LRS) prices for this summer will be almost 16 percent lower than winter supply prices. The new LRS price of 11.09 cents/kWh is down from the winter price of 14.77 cents/kWh and will be in effect from April 1 to September 30. With additional rate adjustments also taking effect, a typical residential customer using 500 kWh per month can expect their monthly bill to decrease by roughly $4.
"Following Rhode Island's coldest winter in over 30 years, capped by the historic blizzard of '26, many of our customers saw significantly higher energy usage and bills over the past few months," said Greg Cornett, President of Rhode Island Energy. "With new summer prices now in effect, customers will begin to see some welcome relief. As always, we remain focused on delivering safe, reliable, and affordable energy across the Ocean State and supporting our customers in every way we can. As we move into the warmer months, we encourage customers to take advantage of our payment plans, assistance programs, and energy-efficiency offerings."
Rhode Island Energy delivers electricity to customers across the state but does not own or generate electricity. For customers who do not choose a competitive supplier or participate in a municipal aggregation program, the company procures electricity on their behalf and passes it through with no markup and no profit. LRS supply prices are updated twice a year - in April and October - and are driven by broader market conditions outside the company's control.
Additionally, RIE reminds customers that it offers various programs and services to help save energy, manage bills, and access financial assistance. Funds remain available for eligible customers experiencing hardship through Rhode Island Operation HELP and the Good Neighbor Energy Fund.
Customers can take advantage of the following programs today:
For more information on these programs and for additional bill help resources, please visit rienergy.com/toolkit.
About Rhode Island Energy
Rhode Island Energy provides essential energy services to over 770,000 customers across Rhode Island through the delivery of electricity and natural gas. Our team of more than 1,300 employees is dedicated to helping Rhode Island customers and communities thrive, while supporting the transition to a cleaner energy future. Rhode Island Energy is part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies addressing energy challenges head-on by building smarter, more resilient, and more dynamic power grids and advancing sustainable energy solutions.
For more information visit www.RIEnergy.com and stay connected on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.
For further information: Michael Dalo, 401.799.7000, [email protected] or Caroline Pretyman, 401.799.7000, [email protected]