Rhode Island Winter Electric Supply Rate May Rise 15%: What Homeowners Can Do
Warwick, United States - October 18, 2026 / Rooftop Power /
WARWICK, R.I. - Rhode Island Energy has asked the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission to approve a winter electric supply rate of 17.03 cents per kilowatt-hour for residential Last Resort Service customers, up from 14.77 cents last winter, an increase of about 15 percent (Docket 26-27-EL). Rooftop Power, a Warwick solar and battery storage company, has published a homeowner guide explaining what the change means and what households can do before winter bills arrive.
What is changing. Last Resort Service is the supply portion of the electric bill, the cost of the electricity itself, and it is reset twice a year, in April and October. Rhode Island Energy said the new winter prices would take effect October 1, pending the commission's approval. For a household using about 500 kilowatt-hours a month, the difference between the two rates works out to roughly 11 dollars a month on the supply portion of the bill.
Start with the utility's own programs. Rhode Island Energy offers budget billing, which spreads payments evenly across the year, no-cost home energy assessments that point out where a house is losing energy, and access to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program for eligible households. These are the fastest steps a homeowner can take this season.
Then look at how much power the house buys from the grid. Supply rates cannot be negotiated, but the amount of grid power a home uses can change. Under Rhode Island net metering, a solar system's extra production is credited to the homeowner's account, and battery storage can hold solar power for use in the evening or during an outage. Whether solar fits a particular home depends on the roof, shade and the household's usage, which is why the guide recommends an assessment before any decision.
"Supply rates reset every April and October, and homeowners can't negotiate them," said a Rooftop Power spokesperson. "What they can control is how much power they buy. We would rather a homeowner start with the utility's programs and get an honest look at their roof than make a rushed decision in January."
Rhode Island homeowners can read the guide and related resources at:
- Rhode Island electric rates this winter
- How net metering works in Rhode Island
- Battery storage for Rhode Island homes
- Rhode Island solar incentives
About Rooftop Power
Rooftop Power is a family-owned solar, battery storage and roofing company based in Warwick, Rhode Island, serving homeowners in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut since 2017, with 4,000+ solar and roofing projects across the three states. Its own crews handle its projects. It is BBB A+ accredited and holds Rhode Island electrical license AC004027 and Rhode Island general contractor registration 42278. Rooftop Power, 275 W Natick Road, Suite 800, Warwick, RI 02886. Phone (401) 298-8040. https://www.rooftoppowerco.com
Contact Information:
Rooftop Power
275 W Natick Road, Suite 800
Warwick, Rhode Island 02886
United States
Hyrum Bond
+1 (401) 298-8040
https://rooftoppowerco.com