Community Corner

Electricity Rates to Jump 12%

Increasing natural gas costs necessitate the price spike, according to National Grid.

Rhode Islanders will be getting an unwelcome present in the mail this holiday season: A bigger power bill.

National Grid will be increasing its electricity costs by 12 percent for residential customers, the company announced Friday. The rate hike, which National Grid blamed on the increasing price for natural gas, will take affect Jan. 1.

Electricity rates are dependent on natural gas prices, which are on the rise in New England because of the region’s dependence on natural gas, the company said in announcing approval of the rate hikes by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission Friday. About half of New England’s electricity generation is fueled by natural gas, said National Grid, which doesn't generate electricity, but buys it from suppliers, passing the cost onto customers.

National Grid is asking residents to learn more about energy efficiency and simply use less electricity to offset costs. The company is offering assistance to those who can't afford the increase.

“We understand that for some of our customers any rate increase may be difficult to manage and National Grid wants to work proactively to help Rhode Islanders control their energy costs as much as possible.” National Grid President Timothy Horan, said in a release. 


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