Summer electric bill savings will be less noticeable than years past for Rhode Island Energy customers because of fee hikes and the cutoff of temporary, cold-weather discounts.
The average Rhode Island Energy residential customer can expect to save $7.31, or 4.8% on monthly electricity bills starting April 1, according to calculations by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission. The three-member panel approved a slew of rate and fee changes affecting Rhode Island Energy gas and electric customers in meetings on March 27 and March 31, ahead of the start to the new fiscal year.
The annual adjustments reflect Rhode Island Energy’s long-term capital projects budget, charges tied to state renewable energy and energy efficiency mandates, and the base price of natural gas, which is usually cheaper during the summer due to a favorable relationship between supply and demand…