Rhode Island Energy Bills Are Climbing. So Is the Political Fighting.

Governor Dan McKee signed an emergency order this week to help Rhode Island families pay their rising winter electric bills. He approved $28 million to reduce costs for Rhode Island Energy customers. But while announcing the help, he also blamed lawmakers, environmental groups, and state regulators for making the energy crisis worse. The announcement came weeks before a Democratic primary election where McKee faces a strong challenger.

McKee said people who spoke out against his energy plan were putting their own interests first, not the interests of struggling families. His original plan would have saved customers $1 billion over five years, but most of it was removed from the final state budget. He said he wants the legislature to hold a special session to bring parts of his plan back to life. Senate and House leaders defended the budget but did not respond to his call for a special session.

Environmental groups and Democratic lawmakers had opposed key parts of McKee's energy plan. They said his plan would have cut programs that help grow renewable energy and reduce energy use. Larry Chretien of the Green Energy Consumers Alliance said he was 'shocked and saddened' by the governor's accusations. He argued that moving toward clean energy is actually the best way to protect people from high and unpredictable energy costs.

Even with $28 million in relief, energy bills are expected to climb this winter. Rhode Island Energy has proposed raising the average monthly electric bill to $175.21, the highest level ever recorded. That is about $30.93 more per month than current summer rates, a jump of 21.4%. The increase is partly due to global energy unrest and new rules from ISO New England, the company that manages the regional power grid.

The energy crisis is causing serious problems for many Rhode Island families. More than 5,700 calls for help with energy bills came through United Way's 2-1-1 hotline in May and June alone — nearly five times more than the same period last year. Over 2,700 customers had their electric or gas service shut off in May because they could not pay. Tens of thousands more received warning letters saying their power could be cut off soon.