Latest news with #RhodeIslandEnergy
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
RI Republicans propose cutting renewable energy programs to reduce utility bills
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — House Republicans have announced a suite of bills cutting back renewable energy programs they say are driving up Rhode Islanders' energy bills. 'Far too often, the utility is painted as the villain, but many of these cost increases stem from legislative mandates — laws passed by the General Assembly that forced utilities to buy expensive energy or fund inefficient programs,' House Minority Leader Mike Chippendale said at a news conference Thursday. The bills, proposed just before the legislative deadline, would do everything from ending solar and wind projects to eliminating the energy efficiency charge. ALSO READ: RI lawmaker wants to cut back on clean energy to lower utility bills One bill would put a pause on net metering, which offers credits to renewable energy customers. 'Right now, solar customers are credited at the full retail rate for energy,' Chippendale said. 'They produce up to 125% of their usage. That's not market-based. It's an inflated rate that gets passed on to every single ratepayer in this state.' Some Democrats at the State House argue renewable energy costs are not the problem — profits are. Legislation proposed by state Rep. Meghan Cotter instead aims to curb the profit margins of utility companies. A spokesperson for Rhode Island Energy said the company has met with leaders from both parties. READ MORE: Expensive electric bills put RI clean energy policies into spotlight 'We welcome smart legislation that prioritizes a balance between reliability and affordability, and look forward to continuing to work with those members of the General Assembly who are committed to that same goal,' Caroline Prettyman wrote. Conversations have gotten louder in Rhode Island as residents continue to share stories of high utility bills. RELATED: Rhode Islanders shred utility bills at State House to protest rising costs 'The money should come back to Rhode Islanders through the profits that Rhode Island Energy is bringing in, instead of by rolling back green energy initiatives that are aimed to make our state better for, you know, not just right now, but 100 years to come,' said Zach Mezera with the Working Families Party. He believes the conversation about utility reform shouldn't be a partisan issue. 'Rhode Island Energy has a lot of money for marketing,' he said. 'They know that this is an issue that wedges right into the middle of the public. So for our part, we think they're trying to pit us left and right, young and old, pro green and anti green against each other.' 12 RESPONDS: Getting answers to your utility bill questions Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
R.I. Senate confirms Karen Bradbury to open spot on PUC
Karen Bradbury and her husband Patrick Crowley smile after the Rhode Island Senate vote on Tuesday, May 27, confirming Bradbury's appointment to the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission. (Screenshot/Capitol TV) Rhode Island's three-pronged state utility panel is back to full power, with the Rhode Island Senate unanimously voting to confirm Karen Bradbury to the open seat on the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission. The chamber's 30-0 vote Tuesday fills the vacancy left by former commissioner John Revens, who resigned in December, midway through his six-year term. Supporters of Bradbury touted her experience in state and federal government and renewable energy as qualifications for her appointment. Bradbury most recently served as program administrator for Rhode Island's Office of Energy Resources, overseeing the rollout of federally funded tax credits and incentives to help homeowners and small business owners pay for high-efficiency electric heat pumps, among other renewable energy programs. Much of her 20-year policy career was spent working under U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, where she left as projects director in December 2022. 'She is committed to finding solutions that provide Rhode Islanders with clean and affordable energy,' Sen. Robert Britto, an East Providence Democrat, chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, said of Bradbury. 'Her track record makes her an excellent selection to serve on the PUC.' Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski, a South Kingstown Democrat, also gave high praise to Bradbury. 'We are so fortunate to have someone with her expertise and her knowledge, and not only that, she's great to work with,' Sosnowski said. Bradbury did not address the chamber, but waved in response to standing applause after the vote. She was accompanied by her husband, Patrick Crowley, the president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. McKee's administration previously defended against inquiries about whether Bradbury's appointment was related to her husband's influential role with a major labor union, instead focusing on Bradbury's own qualifications for the job. Bradbury's high-profile appointment to the regulatory body carries extra weight amid rising frustration over utility costs and profits reported by Rhode Island Energy. Addressing lawmakers during a May 20 panel hearing, Bradbury pledged to protect families and businesses grappling with soaring utility bills while also advancing the state's renewable energy mandates, which are one of several costs contributing to monthly utility bills. The utilities commission by law cannot reject the state utility provider's proposed supply-side prices, as long as they do not include an extra markup beyond what it costs to purchase power directly from third-party suppliers. However, the commission has more authority over service-side charges and has scaled back Rhode Island Energy's proposed investments in capital infrastructure projects in acknowledgement of the extra costs to customers. Bradbury will serve out the rest of Revens' term, which ends on March 1, 2027. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Osprey nest causes power outage in Narragansett
NARRAGANSETT, R.I. (WPRI) — Nearly 3,000 customers were without power in Narragansett from around 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday. An osprey nest caused an outage in Narragansett. (Courtesy: Rhode Island Energy) Rhode Island Energy spokesperson Caroline Pretyman told 12 News the outage was caused by an osprey nest. Crews removed the burned nest, which had no birds in it. WATCH: Bear wanders onto Richmond porch Pretyman said it will be keeping an eye on the area to see if any birds return. 'If they try to re-build a nest there, we will set up a platform and move it,' she explained. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rhode Islanders shred utility bills at State House to protest rising costs
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Islanders gathered outside Gov. Dan McKee's office Thursday evening and took turns shredding their utility bills before urging lawmakers to pass legislation that would protect them from the 'inappropriate and unnecessary costs' imposed by Rhode Island Energy. 'Our utility bills keep rising and are breaking our budgets,' Rep. Art Handy said. 'But under Rhode Island Energy's monopoly, we're forced to pay for their corporate perks — on top of what we already have to pay to make sure their shareholders make a profit.' Rhode Islanders have been expressing frustration for months about higher than usual utility costs, with some residents claiming to have received bills for more than $1,000. 'Pretty much everyone agrees: monopolies are bad for consumers, and they're bad for the economy,' Rep. Megan Cotter said. 'We have a clear opportunity to rein in the inappropriate and unnecessary expenses that drive up costs as Rhode Islanders fall behind on payments.' TARGET 12: Expensive electric bills put RI clean energy policies into spotlight Handy and Cotter are among the state lawmakers working to protect Rhode Islanders from rising utility rates. Cotter has introduced legislation that would cap the utility's profit margin for electric and gas at 4% in any year. 'We need tightened, updated rules that will lower rates and protect consumers from getting screwed over — we need the General Assembly to act now,' Cotter said. Handy's legislation would prohibit utilities from using customers' payments to cover lobbying, advertising and communications. Rhode Island Energy President and CEO Greg Cornett is blaming the higher utility costs on state-mandated charges for clean energy, noting that those policies are out of their control. 'I'm not here to make judgment on whether those costs are good or bad,' Cornett told 12 News. 'We certainly support the state's clean energy and climate goals, but the question is, at what cost?' But Rhode Island Working Families Party's Zack Mezera believes the utility is deflecting blame for those high costs. 'A massive company blaming high bills on green energy gives away the game: they'd rather sacrifice the climate and Rhode Islanders' health than cut into profits for their lobbyists and shareholders,' Mezera said. 'Pitting Rhode Islanders against each other over green energy is a divide and conquer tactic to distract us from what they're really doing: getting every penny they can from us, the consumer.' Other proposals being considered include giving customers with serious illness certifications more time to pay their bills before their utilities are turned off, capping utility rate increase to the Consumer Price Index and establishing an income-driven payment plan. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'We have to look to alternatives': Could RI buy nuclear power to keep energy costs down?
PROVIDENCE – State lawmakers are looking to open the door for Rhode Island Energy to sign a long-term contract for nuclear power in a bid to lower electric rates and meet climate goals. While the electricity generated by nuclear reactors in New England has been an integral part of the region's energy mix for decades, Rhode Island's largest utility has never made a long-term commitment to buy output from them. But the change in the political landscape that has come with a new administration in Washington, D.C., among other factors, has made nuclear power a more attractive option to the company. The Trump administration's crackdown on offshore wind development has left Rhode Island Energy and other utilities scrambling to find alternative sources of affordable, zero-carbon power that would allow them to comply with state clean energy mandates. 'We are constantly looking for everything that we can,' said Rhode Island Energy president Greg Cornett. 'The timing of this is more important because of where things stand with the offshore wind industry.' Of interest to the company are supplies from one of the two nuclear power plants that remain in New England: Millstone Power Station, the 2,100-megawatt facility operated by Dominion Energy in Waterford, Connecticut. Contracts that the plant signed with a pair of utilities in Connecticut are expiring in 2029 and Rhode Island Energy expects the process to find new buyers for the facility's energy could start as early as the end of this year. Massachusetts amended its long-term contracting law for renewable energy last fall to clear the way for utilities in that state to buy nuclear power. Legislation recently introduced in the General Assembly would make a similar change to Rhode Island law. The proposal comes at a delicate time for Rhode Island Energy. Electric rates have remained relatively high after spiking two and a half years ago, and a cold winter that drove up usage has left many customers fed up. More than 180 of them showed up at state offices last week for what would usually have been a routine hearing on one of the company's twice-yearly rate changes. Cornett acknowledged the frustration and, while being careful not to overpromise on the benefits of nuclear, said he believes it may help with costs over the long term. 'If we don't believe it would be a savings for our customers, we won't enter it,' he said of a contract with Millstone. Sen. David Tikoian and Rep. Joseph Solomon, lead sponsors of the nuclear bill, both cited cost savings in explaining why they introduced it. 'One of the biggest complaints I'm hearing is the cost of energy,' said Solomon, a Warwick Democrat. 'We have to look to alternatives.' But projecting savings is difficult. Right now, the two utilities in Connecticut, Eversource and Avangrid subsidiary United Illuminating Co., are paying Millstone owner Dominion Energy about 5 cents a kilowatt hour under 10-year contracts that went into effect in 2019. And while those agreements saved money in 2022 and other years when the price of power from natural gas-fired generators was higher, they've also saddled ratepayers with many millions of dollars of above-market costs when gas prices were lower, according to reports from Connecticut media. Tikoian acknowledged the uncertainty, saying, "If the utility can't get attractive pricing for ratepayers, then they don't have to proceed." Cornett said he expects prices in any new contracts with Millstone to be higher than current wholesale rates, driven up in part by demand from data centers, but he said that the agreements could still lead to savings down the line. Natural gas prices in New England are already higher on average than those in the rest of the nation and they could go up as electric usage increases. If the federal blockade breaks on offshore wind, contract prices for that source of power could also come in higher, making nuclear potentially more desirable. Just like in Massachusetts, the Rhode Island legislation adds nuclear as an option under the state's long-term contracting law for renewable energy. Although nuclear is not renewable, it is a clean source of power that doesn't produce planet-warming greenhouse gases. In that sense, it fits in with the goals of the Act on Climate, state law that requires Rhode Island to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Cornett said it also makes sense to consider amending the law to open up public policy discussions about nuclear in the General Assembly, and later, if a contract were to move forward, before the state Public Utilities Commission. One area of contention is sure to be language in the bill that would allow Rhode Island Energy to seek remuneration for signing long-term contracts under the law. As the statute is currently written, the utility is allowed to seek a payment of up to 1% of the value of any contract only through the end of next year. The legislation removes that sunset provision while still requiring final approval from the Public Utilities Commission for any incentives. Rhode Island Energy has long argued that carrying what can be decades-long power contracts on its books is a risk that credit rating agencies may frown upon. If there were an increase in borrowing costs, it would hurt the company's bottom line, the thinking goes. But while the Public Utilities Commission awarded an incentive for the Block Island Wind Farm contract, it has more recently frowned upon remuneration and there's no indication that the commission's stance has changed. Paying the utility what some see as nothing more than bonus payments has been a contentious subject in the State House, dividing the House and Senate in 2022 when the issue was raised in regard to new offshore wind contracts. In the end, the two chambers agreed on a compromise: remuneration was set at up to 1%, but a deadline of Dec. 31, 2026 was put in place for any offshore wind projects that qualify. By the time Rhode Island Energy went out to bid for new contracts, it had decided against seeking an incentive. Sen. Dawn Euer, the Newport Democrat who led the fight against remuneration three years ago, said there's still no justification for paying extra money to the utility. The company is governed by state regulations that already reward it a profit incentive, she said. 'I think there is zero risk because they are by definition too big to fail,' she said. 'Their costs are covered by ratepayers.' Tikoian and Solomon said the remuneration language could change. "I wouldn't be surprised if that falls off when the bill passes," Solomon said. There are larger questions in play that explain why Massachusetts and now Rhode Island policymakers are looking at contracts for nuclear power. Not so long ago, New England had four operating nuclear power stations. Vermont Yankee closed in 2014 in the face of a string of problems that included a crumbling cooling tower. The Pilgrim plant in Massachusetts followed in 2019, its owner citing high operating costs and low wholesale prices driven down by cheap natural gas. The 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan also didn't help efforts to keep either plant going. The closures have left Millstone and Seabrook Station in New Hampshire as the only two remaining nuclear facilities in the region and the share of power supplied to the six New England states from nuclear has dropped from 29% to 24%, according to the nonprofit that manages the regional power grid. Natural gas-fired plants and renewables have made up the difference. But if either of the two remaining nuclear stations were to close it would mean a huge gap in supplies of dependable, around-the-clock power. Renewables may not be able to make up the shortfall, at least in the near term without viable battery storage projects. As for natural gas, many believe New England is already overdependent on the fossil fuel, which is responsible for more than half of the region's power generation, and then there are the emissions issues. So keeping carbon-free nuclear power flowing is important to the region and, in regard to Millstone, other states are now showing a willingness to share the responsibility with Connecticut to ensure it stays in operation. Euer agreed that Millstone's operation is probably good for New England. The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources too lent credence to the idea, saying in a statement that it's interested in working with neighboring states on plans to reduce emissions that include solar, offshore wind, hydropower and nuclear. Current events are only reinforcing the need to reconsider options for clean energy in New England. Besides what's happening with offshore wind, President Trump's tariff threats and responses in Canada to dial up the costs of hydropower delivered to New England and other parts of the U.S. have raised uncomfortable questions about the vulnerability of power supplies that the region counts on. For Cornett, it means ensuring that all options are on the table. 'It's going to take all of us to really work together to find the right middle ground because the landscape as I sit here is very different from even nine months ago,' he said. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Nuclear energy could be on the table for RI. Would it save ratepayers money?
