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Rhode Island Energy Overcharges Heat Pump Owners Due to Outdated Rate Structure

Rhode Island Energy Overcharges Heat Pump Owners Due to Outdated Rate Structure

Rhode Island Energy is currently overcharging heat pump owners for electricity, leading to artificially inflated winter bills. The Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) highlights that while heat pumps are designed to save money and reduce carbon emissions, the utility's pricing structure does not adequately account for seasonal electricity demand. Rhode Island Energy charges customers based on overall energy usage, which includes costs for maintaining infrastructure. Heat pump owners use more electricity, particularly in winter, leading to higher bills. However, the electricity grid experiences less stress in winter compared to summer, when demand peaks due to air conditioning. The CLF argues that the utility's current rates fail to differentiate between peak summer usage, which necessitates costly infrastructure upgrades, and off-peak winter usage, which does not. This discrepancy results in heat pump users paying approximately $900 more per year than they should. The Public Utilities Commission recently app...

D.C. Council Committee Unanimously Advances GRID Act to Address Utility Costs and Promote Clean Energy

D.C. Council Committee Unanimously Advances GRID Act to Address Utility Costs and Promote Clean Energy

The D.C. Council Committee on Transportation and the Environment has unanimously passed the GRID Act, a utility affordability bill aimed at reining in rising energy costs, strengthening oversight of utility spending and profits, and expanding local clean energy options. Introduced by Councilmember Charles Allen and co-sponsored by several other councilmembers, this legislation would mark the District's first major utility and Public Service Commission reform in 25 years. D.C. electric bills have surged by 93% in the last five years, disproportionately affecting low-income households, with a quarter of them spending at least 14% of their income on energy. The GRID Act seeks to mitigate these issues by increasing scrutiny of utility spending, mandating regular audits, implementing an 18-month pause on multiyear rate increases, and tightening regulations on utility profits. Reforming utilities' allowed return on equity alone could save ratepayers over $50 million annually, according to Public Service Commissi...

South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Approves Black Hills Energy Rate Increase Effective December 1

South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Approves Black Hills Energy Rate Increase Effective December 1

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved a settlement agreement allowing Black Hills Energy to increase electric rates for its South Dakota customers by approximately $27.4 million annually, effective December 1. This translates to a 21.28% increase in base rate revenue and a 13.62% increase in total bills. A typical residential customer using 650 kilowatt-hours per month is expected to see their bill rise by about $16.34. Black Hills Energy initially requested a $50.6 million annual increase, but the PUC staff, along with intervenors including the South Dakota Large Customer Group, negotiated a significantly reduced settlement. The utility cited additional capital investment, increased operating costs, ongoing infrastructure investments, and higher cost of capital as reasons for the rate hike. As part of the agreement, Black Hills Energy has committed to a four-year base rate moratorium, preventing further increases before August 18, 2030.

New York Households Face Electricity Prices 58% Above National Average, Empire Center Reports

New York Households Face Electricity Prices 58% Above National Average, Empire Center Reports

New York households are contending with residential electricity prices that are nearly 58% higher than the national average, according to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) analyzed by the Empire Center for Public Policy. The state's average residential electricity price stands at 28.65 cents per kilowatt-hour. This translates to an estimated annual increase of $275 for a home consuming 800 kilowatt-hours monthly, significantly higher than the median nationwide increase of $82. Since August 2019, nationwide household electricity prices have risen by 36.5%, while New York has seen a 55.9% increase. Zilvinas Silenas, president of the Empire Center for Public Policy, stated that these high costs are placing an additional burden on already stretched household budgets and indicate a failure in New York's energy policy.

Governor Daniel McKee Announces Reopening of I-195 in East Providence Following Bridge Demolition

Governor Daniel McKee Announces Reopening of I-195 in East Providence Following Bridge Demolition

Governor Daniel McKee announced that I-195 in East Providence has fully reopened in both directions after a temporary closure for the demolition of the Potter Street Bridge. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) closed the highway at 10 p.m. last night for the safe demolition, which is part of the larger Washington Bridge rebuild project. Eastbound lanes reopened at 11 a.m., and westbound lanes began reopening at noon. RIDOT expressed appreciation for the patience of residents and business owners during the closure. The Potter Street Bridge will be rebuilt over the next 12-18 months to accommodate a wider highway corridor with additional travel lanes on I-195 West, aiming to alleviate longstanding congestion.

Democrats plan to push clean energy to lower bills and challenge Trump’s fossil fuel agenda

Democrats plan to push clean energy to lower bills and challenge Trump’s fossil fuel agenda

Some Democrats are promising to push for more clean energy to help tackle rising energy costs when they take control of Congress in January

Congressman Vicente Gonzalez Secures Over $500,000 for Rio Grande Valley Public Transportation Improvements

Congressman Vicente Gonzalez Secures Over $500,000 for Rio Grande Valley Public Transportation Improvements

Congressman Vicente Gonzalez has announced the allocation of $510,650 in state and federal funding aimed at enhancing public transportation services across the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. These funds, provided by the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration, are designated to support various public transportation projects. The initiatives include improving transit options in rural areas and increasing accessibility for senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. Congressman Gonzalez emphasized that access to efficient transportation should not be dictated by one's ZIP code, highlighting the importance of these investments in strengthening transit operations for all South Texans. The funding aims to ensure residents can travel efficiently for work, school, medical appointments, errands, and social connections. Three specific agencies in the Valley are slated to receive portions of this funding: the city of South Padre Island will receive $289,000, the Lower Rio ...

U.S. Representative Gabe Amo Celebrates Revolution Wind Project Reaching Full Operation in Rhode Island

U.S. Representative Gabe Amo Celebrates Revolution Wind Project Reaching Full Operation in Rhode Island

Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) has announced the full commercial operation of the Revolution Wind project, an offshore wind farm located approximately 15 miles south of Rhode Island. This 704-megawatt project, featuring 65 turbines, is designed to generate enough electricity to power an estimated 350,000 homes and businesses across Rhode Island and Connecticut. Congressman Amo highlighted the project as a significant achievement for Rhode Island's 'Blue Economy' and the region's clean energy future. He noted that the construction phase created over 1,000 union jobs and emphasized the lasting benefits it will bring to Rhode Island families and businesses by leveraging the state's natural resources and skilled workforce. Amo, a prominent advocate for the Blue Economy in Congress, recently concluded his second Blue Economy Tour, engaging with various stakeholders to promote a sustainable economy centered on ocean resources and maritime heritage.

Orsted's Revolution Wind Project Achieves Commercial Operation in U.S.

Orsted's Revolution Wind Project Achieves Commercial Operation in U.S.

Orsted, the Danish offshore wind developer, announced that its 704-megawatt Revolution Wind project has reached commercial operation in October. This milestone was disclosed in the company's third-quarter interim report on November 5. The project, located approximately 15 nautical miles southeast of Point Judith, features 65 turbines and began delivering power to the grid in March, with the final turbine installed in September. Rhode Island Energy holds a 20-year contract to purchase 400 megawatts of the farm's output, while Connecticut utilities will receive the remaining 304 megawatts. Governor Dan McKee of Rhode Island lauded the project's completion as a significant achievement for the state's workforce and energy future. The project is estimated to power the equivalent of more than 350,000 New England homes, with the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) stating it can power nearly 250,000 homes. The Rhode Island contract sets a flat wholesale price of $98.425 per megawatt-hour for the 20-y...

Environmental Protection Network Urges EPA to Restart Solar for All Program to Reduce Household Electricity Bills

Environmental Protection Network Urges EPA to Restart Solar for All Program to Reduce Household Electricity Bills

The Environmental Protection Network (EPN) has released a new report urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promptly restart the $7 billion Solar for All program. This call comes as American families face record-high electricity bills. The EPN's analysis indicates that if the EPA complies with two federal court rulings and restarts the program instead of appealing, it could help 1 million households cut their electric bills by approximately 25 percent. Two federal courts in Rhode Island and Washington, D.C., have found the EPA's August 2025 termination of the program unlawful. The government's 60-day window to appeal these rulings closes in mid-November. The EPN, composed of former EPA officials, highlights that delays caused by the program's termination have altered its potential benefits and increased the urgency of its reinstatement.

Ørsted's Revolution Wind Project Achieves Full Commercial Operation Despite Trump Administration Obstacles

Ørsted's Revolution Wind Project Achieves Full Commercial Operation Despite Trump Administration Obstacles

Ørsted's 704-megawatt Revolution Wind farm, a 50:50 partnership with Global Infrastructure Partners, has reached full commercial operation off the coast of Rhode Island. This milestone was announced by Ørsted on Thursday, confirming that the project is now supplying power to Connecticut and Rhode Island. The project, which began construction in 2023, faced significant delays due to two stop-work orders issued by the Trump administration. These orders cited security risks, specifically concerns about interference with military radar, although a federal judge rejected these arguments and allowed work to continue. Despite the project's completion, the Trump administration continued its efforts to halt Revolution Wind, with attorneys for the Interior Department seeking to rescind prior approvals for the project's construction plan in October. This request remains pending before U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth in Washington D.C., who has previously sided with developers against the administration. R...

US escalates economic campaign against Cuba and targets China-based suppliers

US escalates economic campaign against Cuba and targets China-based suppliers

The Trump administration has escalated its economic campaign against Cuba