During a period of punishing heat, Rhode Island advocates warned that a worsening utility crisis was putting older adults, single-parent families, and people with medical needs at risk as electricity shutoffs mounted.
One community group said overnight calls for help became so frequent that its voicemail filled up before staff returned in the morning.
What’s happening?
At the start of the day, workers at the George Wiley Center, an advocacy group in Pawtucket, found as many as dozens of messages from residents who feared losing power or were already living without it.
In May, more than 2,700 Rhode Island Energy customers were disconnected from electric or gas service for unpaid bills, and another 50,000 were sent warning notices, the Rhode Island Current reported…