Angry Public Wants No National Grid Rate Increase; PUC Vote Looms

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“This rate increase will be deadly for all Rhode Island businesses,” said a critic of raising electric rates.

One-by-one people came to the podium at the Public Utilities Commission, blasting National Grid’s request for a 24–percent rate increase, for next year.

“For people that are low income and on fixed incomes; people just plain can’t afford it,” said Rhode Island resident Jan Campbell.

“Right now I don’t have a job, and it’s very hard for me to keep clothes on my kid,” said Memie Baye, a Providence resident.

National Grid says it has budget plans and low–income assistance that customers can apply for.

ABC6 News “The Commission heard hours of often anger testimony, but a vote on the proposed rate increase won’t come until next week.”

The rate hike request has political overtones. The incoming Lieutenant Governor will chair the state’s Small Business Advisory Council and says higher electric rates are a bad idea.

“It has long–term implications for the State of Rhode Island, whether businesses actually come here and stay here, and also grow here,” said Lt. Governor-Elect Dan McKee, (D) Rhode Island.

But National Grid says it has no choice, a shortage of natural gas and pipelines to produce electricity is driving up the cost.

“The energy generators, are looking at conditions where there is just not enough natural gas coming into New England for them to stay up and running during the most bitterly cold days of the year,” said David Graves, the National Grid spokesman.

If approved the Public Utilities Commission says the typical customer will pay 22 dollars more per month. The PUC is schedule to vote on Tuesday December 23rd.