Rhode Island Energy electric rates and bills
Rhode Island Energy's 338,735 default-service customers in Rhode Island paid an average of 29.45¢ per kWh in 2025, for an average bill of $165.83 a month on 563 kWh.1 Over the last 12 months (Sep 2025–Aug 2026) the average was 29.26¢, and 27.47¢ in August 2026.2 Another 119,439 homes on its wires (26.1%) buy their supply elsewhere and pay Rhode Island Energy delivery charges averaging 16.29¢ per kWh, plus their supplier's price.
EIA-861 2025 final (released October 7, 2026) and EIA's monthly utility survey through August 2026 (preliminary); next monthly update expected November 24, 2026. Averages are revenue divided by kWh, all charges included: not the rate printed in a tariff.
5 of 5 Rhode Island counties served (EIA-861 2025)
Rhode Island Energy's full-service homes paid an average of 29.26¢ per kWh2 over the 12 months to August 2026, 9th highest of 1771 large US utilities on the 2025 figures. Because those homes use little electricity, the average bill stays near the national one, and unlike several neighboring utilities' bills it peaks in summer, not winter.
Rhode Island Energy's price per kWh, three ways
Rhode Island Energy is the trade name of The Narragansett Electric Company, an investor-owned utility whose wires reach 458,174 Rhode Island homes, 98.7%1 of the state's residential customers. PPL Corporation bought it from National Grid on May 25, 2022, so older bills and many search results still carry the National Grid name.
What a kWh costs depends on the period chosen. For the 338,7351 homes that bought their supply from the utility as well as delivery, EIA reports:
- 29.26¢ per kWh over the 12 months September 2025 to August 2026 (EIA-861M monthly sample, 2026 months preliminary);
- 27.47¢ per kWh2 in August 20263, a single preliminary summer month;
- 29.45¢ per kWh1 for calendar 2025 (EIA-861, final).
These are averages of revenue per kWh: the customer charge, delivery charges, the Last Resort Service supply charge and other adjustments, added up and divided by the kWh sold, excluding most taxes. No line on a Rhode Island Energy bill shows them. Because the utility serves almost every home in the state, its 2025 figure sits 0.1% below the Rhode Island average1; the state average and the utility average are, for practical purposes, the same number.
Near the top among large US utilities
Among the 177 US utilities with 100,000 or more residential customers that report a full-service price, Rhode Island Energy ranked 9th highest of 177 in 2025. It was 65.6% above the national average for investor-owned utilities; the median large utility averaged 15.07¢ per kWh1.
Near neighbors on that list in 2025 were National Grid in Massachusetts at 33.66¢ per kWh, United Illuminating at 35.40¢ per kWh, Versant Power at 30.93¢ per kWh and Eversource in Connecticut at 28.88¢ per kWh. Central Maine Power (27.41¢ per kWh), Eversource in New Hampshire (24.17¢ per kWh) and Green Mountain Power (23.29¢ per kWh1) averaged less.
Source: EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final. EIA-861 2025 final. Average revenue per kWh is all charges divided by kWh; it is not a tariff rate.
Show the numbers
| Utility | average residential price (bundled customers) |
|---|---|
| Green Mountain Power (VT) | 23.29¢ |
| Eversource (NH) | 24.17¢ |
| Central Maine Power (ME) | 27.41¢ |
| Eversource (CT) | 28.88¢ |
| Rhode Island Energy (RI) | 29.45¢ |
| Versant Power (ME) | 30.93¢ |
| National Grid (MA) | 33.66¢ |
| United Illuminating (CT) | 35.40¢ |
What changed in 2025 and 2026
From 2024 to 2025 the full-service average went from 28.26¢ per kWh to 29.45¢ per kWh, a rise of 4.2%. The average bill rose less, +2.2% to $165.83, because use per home slipped from 574 kWh4 to 563 kWh1 a month.
The monthly data since then point the other way. The 12 months September 2025 to August 2026 averaged 29.26¢ per kWh, below the 2025 figure. August 20263 came in at 27.47¢ per kWh, +3.3%2 on August 2025; August falls in the utility's summer supply period, and in EIA's monthly series its summer months average less per kWh than the months from October to March, so that single reading sits below the year as a whole. All 2026 months are preliminary.
Source: EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility; EIA, Electric Power Monthly / EIA-861M sales and revenue by state. Residential revenue divided by kWh in each month, as reported to EIA's monthly survey (EIA-861M; months since January 2026 preliminary). Bundled (default-service) customers only.
Show the numbers
| Month | Rhode Island Energy (¢/kWh) | kWh per customer | Bill per customer |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | 31.67¢ | 629 | $199.31 |
| February 2025 | 33.31¢ | 560 | $186.58 |
| March 2025 | 32.48¢ | 540 | $175.57 |
| April 2025 | 27.81¢ | 445 | $123.73 |
| May 2025 | 27.88¢ | 460 | $128.34 |
| June 2025 | 26.68¢ | 590 | $157.32 |
| July 2025 | 26.08¢ | 832 | $216.93 |
| August 2025 | 26.58¢ | 722 | $192.05 |
| September 2025 | 28.27¢ | 465 | $131.39 |
| October 2025 | 32.60¢ | 430 | $140.10 |
| November 2025 | 31.39¢ | 466 | $146.37 |
| December 2025 | 31.14¢ | 616 | $191.99 |
| January 2026 | 30.07¢ | 628 | $188.73 |
| February 2026 | 29.42¢ | 574 | $168.94 |
| March 2026 | 30.11¢ | 503 | $151.49 |
| April 2026 | 27.46¢ | 518 | $142.16 |
| May 2026 | 28.64¢ | 507 | $145.24 |
| June 2026 | 28.69¢ | 480 | $137.61 |
| July 2026 | 27.65¢ | 781 | $216.06 |
| August 2026 | 27.47¢ | 583 | $160.05 |
Two decisions from late summer 2026 are not yet in EIA's figures. On August 21, 2026, the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission decided the utility's distribution rate case (Docket 25-45-GE); according to the Rhode Island Attorney General's office, it allowed a one-year increase instead of the multi-year plan the company proposed and ordered bill credits for customers. Separately, the commission reviewed a new winter Last Resort Service supply price for effect October 1, 2026 in Docket 26-27-EL. In a July 2026 release, the utility said that price would be higher than the summer one and that it passes supply costs through with no markup or profit. EIA's monthly figures will show their effect from the months they took effect; the next release, for September 2026, is due November 24, 2026, and the guide to rate increases explains how such decisions reach a bill.
Bills peak in summer, not winter
Rhode Island Energy's full-service homes used 563 kWh1 a month in 2025, against 874 kWh5 for the average US home. That low use keeps the bill close to the national one despite the price: $160.07 a month over the 12 months September 2025 to August 2026 for 547 kWh2, against a US average of $157.843.
The calendar is unusual for New England. In the same 12 months, use per home was lowest in October 2025 (430 kWh, an average bill of $140.10) and highest in July 2026 (781 kWh, $216.06). At National Grid in Massachusetts the peak came in January 2026, at Versant Power in January 2026 and at Green Mountain Power in January 20262. Electric heating is rare in Rhode Island: 13.8% of homes heated mainly with electricity in the Census Bureau's 2025 survey, against 41.8%6 nationally, so winter cold does little to the electricity bill and the largest one comes in summer.
Source: EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility. kWh per residential customer in each month (EIA-861M; months since January 2026 preliminary). The table adds the average bill and price for the month.
Show the numbers
| Month | kWh per customer | Bill per customer | ¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | 465 | $131.39 | 28.27¢ |
| October 2025 | 430 | $140.10 | 32.60¢ |
| November 2025 | 466 | $146.37 | 31.39¢ |
| December 2025 | 616 | $191.99 | 31.14¢ |
| January 2026 | 628 | $188.73 | 30.07¢ |
| February 2026 | 574 | $168.94 | 29.42¢ |
| March 2026 | 503 | $151.49 | 30.11¢ |
| April 2026 | 518 | $142.16 | 27.46¢ |
| May 2026 | 507 | $145.24 | 28.64¢ |
| June 2026 | 480 | $137.61 | 28.69¢ |
| July 2026 | 781 | $216.06 | 27.65¢ |
| August 2026 | 583 | $160.05 | 27.47¢ |
The price per kWh runs the opposite way to use. The utility sets its Last Resort Service supply price separately for a winter period starting October 1 and a summer period, and the Rhode Island state page traces how the statewide monthly average steps up each October. Heavy summer use therefore meets the lower summer supply price, which damps the summer bill.
Source: EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final. EIA-861 2025 final. Average revenue per kWh is all charges divided by kWh; it is not a tariff rate.
Show the numbers
| Utility | average monthly residential use |
|---|---|
| National Grid (MA) | 487 |
| Versant Power (ME) | 490 |
| United Illuminating (CT) | 516 |
| Central Maine Power (ME) | 538 |
| Rhode Island Energy (RI) | 563 |
| Green Mountain Power (VT) | 601 |
| Eversource (NH) | 620 |
| Eversource (CT) | 677 |
Last Resort Service, suppliers and the delivery-only price
Homes on Rhode Island Energy's wires can buy supply from a competitive supplier or a community aggregation while the utility keeps delivering the power. In 2025, 119,439 of its residential customers did, 26.1%1 of the homes it serves. The full-service figures above do not cover them.
For those homes EIA reports only the delivery side. They paid Rhode Island Energy an average of 16.29¢ per kWh for delivery in 2025, up +7.2% from 15.19¢ per kWh4 in 2024, a faster rise than the 4.2% in the full-service average. Their delivery bill averaged $84.61 a month for 519 kWh1.
Their supply was billed separately. Across Rhode Island, residential supplier customers paid their suppliers an average of 14.34¢ per kWh for supply alone in 2025: a past average over every contract that ran that year, not a price on offer today. The delivery-only and supply-only averages cover different contracts and volumes, so they are shown here side by side and not combined; neither can be set against the 29.45¢ per kWh1 full-service average as a like-for-like comparison. The way to compare an offer is with the Last Resort Service supply price printed on the current bill. The guide to delivery and supply charges explains the two halves.
Measured on delivery alone, Rhode Island Energy was among the lower of New England's large utilities in 2025: 16.29¢ per kWh, against 17.11¢ per kWh at Central Maine Power, 18.73¢ per kWh at National Grid in Massachusetts and 20.17¢ per kWh at United Illuminating. Eversource in New Hampshire, at 14.20¢ per kWh1, was lower.
Meters, solar and outages
Smart meters were still a minority in 2025: 39.5% of Rhode Island Energy's residential meters were advanced meters, against 99.5% at Central Maine Power. Rooftop solar is more common than the national norm, with 19,892 net-metered residential installations, 43.4 per 1,000 residential customers (US: 38.1), and 125.4 megawatts7 of capacity. Electricity those panels produce and use at home never passes through a meter as a sale, one more reason why use per home looks low. The net metering guide explains how exports are credited.
On outages the utility's record is the state's. Its customers averaged 183 minutes without power in 2025 with major storms included and 60 minutes with them excluded, on 0.96 interruptions per customer (IEEE 1366). On the measure that leaves out major storms, Rhode Island ranked 2nd lowest8 among the states.
Where it delivers, and who else does
EIA's 2025 territory records place Rhode Island Energy in all 5 counties: Bristol County, Kent County, Newport County, Providence County and Washington County. In 3 of them it is the only distribution utility. In the other 29, a public power district also serves part of the county: Clear River Electric and Water District (0.9% of the state's residential customers) and Block Island Utility District (0.4%). Their combined full-service average in 2025 was 22.46¢ per kWh1, but only homes inside those districts can be served by them; the utilities' own maps decide by address.
Source: EIA-861 2025, service territory; Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties. EIA-861 2025 service territory: 5 counties. Counts whole counties even where the utility serves only part of one; check the utility's own service-area map for an address.
Show the numbers
| County | Other utilities reporting service |
|---|---|
| Bristol County | none |
| Kent County | none |
| Newport County | none |
| Providence County | Clear River Electric and Water District |
| Washington County | Block Island Utility District |
Businesses pay close to what homes do. Full-service commercial customers averaged 26.82¢ per kWh in 2025 and industrial customers 26.10¢ per kWh; across all full-service customers the figure was 28.71¢ per kWh. Commercial customers with a supplier paid the utility 11.61¢ per kWh1 for delivery.
Households struggling with bills can apply for LIHEAP, the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program; Rhode Island's fiscal 2026 allocation was $26.8 million11. The guide to help paying an electric bill covers it and utility payment programs.
Rhode Island Energy questions
What is Rhode Island Energy's rate per kWh?
For homes that buy both supply and delivery from the utility (Last Resort Service), the average was 29.26¢ per kWh over the 12 months September 2025 to August 2026, 27.47¢ per kWh2 in August 20263 alone (both preliminary for 2026) and 29.45¢ per kWh1 for calendar 2025. Each is everything billed divided by kWh used, so it is higher than the supply price or any single delivery charge printed on a bill.
Is Rhode Island Energy the same as National Grid?
It is the same utility under a new owner. PPL Corporation bought The Narragansett Electric Company from National Grid in May 2022 and renamed it Rhode Island Energy. EIA still reports it under the legal name, utility number 13214.
What is the average Rhode Island Energy bill?
$165.83 a month in 2025 for 563 kWh1, for full-service homes. Over the 12 months September 2025 to August 2026 the average was $160.07, highest in July 2026 at $216.062.
Does Rhode Island Energy have time-of-use rates for homes?
EIA's 2025 count recorded 0.0% of Rhode Island homes on a time-varying rate, and only 39.5%7 of Rhode Island Energy's residential meters were advanced meters, which such rates need. The utility's tariff on file with the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission lists the rate options currently offered.
Related pages
Sources
- EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final; table Sales_Ult_Cust_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility; table sales_ult_cust_2025 and _2026; released October 23, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA, Electric Power Monthly / EIA-861M sales and revenue by state; table sales_revenue.xlsx (EPM Table 5.6.A); January 2001 to 2026-08; months since January 2026 preliminary; released October 23, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2024 final; table Sales_Ult_Cust_2024; 2024, final (file updated December 3, 2025); released December 3, 2025. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, average monthly bill by state; table Average_Bill_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 1-year estimates, house heating fuel, table B25040; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
- EIA-861 2025, advanced meters, dynamic pricing and net metering; table Advanced_Meters, Dynamic_Pricing, Net_Metering 2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, reliability; table Reliability_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, service territory; table Service_Territory_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties; table cb_2025_us_county_5m; cb_2021_us_county_5m; 2025 (2021 for Connecticut). www.census.gov
- HHS, LIHEAP funding releases to states; table FY2027 first release; FY2026 final; FY2027 first release (October 9, 2026); FY2026 total; released October 9, 2026. acf.gov
Margins of error (±) are at the 90% confidence level. A difference is called significant only when it passes the Census Bureau's test at that level. How every figure is built: methodology. Found an error? Write to [email protected]; corrections are listed on the updates page.