The Energy Consumer's Bulletin- a New England energy news blog

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Third-Party Electric Suppliers Have Overcharged Rhode Island Residents $62 Million Since 2017

Most of Rhode Island is served by one utility, Rhode Island Energy, and they have a monopoly over the distribution of electricity (poles, wires,...

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Energy policy & advocacy Electricity and the grid Green municipal aggregation Rhode Island Climate change

Third-Party Electric Suppliers Have Overcharged Rhode Island Residents $62 Million Since 2017

Most of Rhode Island is served by one utility, Rhode Island Energy, and they have a monopoly over the distribution of electricity (poles, wires, meters, billing), but not over the supply of electricity. This leaves residents of Rhode Island with three choices as to who to buy their electricity supply from: “Last Resort” power from the Rhode Island Energy, their city or town through municipal aggregation (if the community has a program), or from a third-party, sometimes called a competitive supplier.

Picture of Carrie Katan Carrie Katan
Electric vehicles/Transportation

Car Corner: Fall 2025

A lot has happened this year with shifting policy, but the electric vehicle (EV) market has persevered. Incentives play a critical role in making EVs more accessible, and the end of the federal tax credit has caused many EVs to sell fast in recent weeks. Fortunately, the Massachusetts and Rhode Island rebates are not going anywhere in the near term, and several more affordable EVs are set to enter the market this year. Charging infrastructure continues to grow more robust, too. EVs are here to stay, and we hope that you’ll choose to make the switch with us. 

Picture of Caroline Gracia Caroline Gracia
Energy efficiency Heating

How to Choose the Right Heat Pump Installer

We’ve heard from many people that they hope to install heat pumps or a heat pump water heater before the end of 2025 so that they can take advantage of the up-to-$2,000 federal tax credit, which ends on December 31st. And still others are compelled to act because their fossil fuel heating equipment is failing. 

To help our readers speed up their search for skilled installers, here are some tips to help you find a qualified, experienced contractor for your home.

Picture of Loie Hayes Loie Hayes
Renewable energy Energy policy & advocacy Electricity and the grid Our programs Climate change

Shave the Peak End-of-Summer Trends

This summer, we collected data every day from ISO-New England, the nonprofit Independent System Operator responsible for ensuring reliable electricity delivery across the six New England states. We tracked the forecasted high temperature, the forecasted and actual peak load, the time of said peak, the peak price of electricity and its timing, the CO2 emissions at peak, the output of behind the meter (BTM) solar and its timing, and whether or not we sent out a Shave the Peak notification to our subscribers who receive alerts on when and how to reduce electricity use during times of high stress on the grid. Stay tuned to find out how many Shave the Peak alerts we sent out this summer! 

Picture of Amanda Barker Amanda Barker 
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Picture of Maya Mastro Maya Mastro
Electric vehicles/Transportation Climate change Phasing out fossil fuels

Why We Need Electric Vehicles

To celebrate National Drive Electric Month, we want to remind ourselves of the environmental, public health, and economic benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) and why they are so critical to the clean energy transition. 

As part of our Truth To Power campaign, we dispelled clean energy myths and hosted a webinar on the many benefits of EVs. This blog retells and expands on that webinar.

Picture of Caroline Gracia Caroline Gracia
Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Electricity and the grid

Utility Securitization: A Possible Electric Rate Reduction Tool

It is becoming clear that the cost of maintaining and modernizing our electricity grid is going to require large capital expenditures by our local electric utilities. Financing these investments, while keeping electric rates from rising further, is going to be a challenge.

One policy that could help do this, which has already been used across the country, is utility securitization.  

Picture of Carrie Katan Carrie Katan
Renewable energy Energy policy & advocacy Electricity and the grid Climate change

Our Statement On Trump’s All-out Assault On Offshore Wind

On his first day in office, the president issued an executive order halting the future permitting and leasing of all offshore wind projects. That action alone was damaging—and is currently being challenged by 18 state attorneys general. But since then, the administration has escalated to an all-out assault on offshore wind.

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien 
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Picture of Amanda Barker Amanda Barker