Representative Morales urge the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers to delay the transfer of Narragansett Electric to the PPL Corporation

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) –  Representative David Morales and multiple community advocates urge the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers to delay the transfer of Narragansett Electric to the PPL Corporation before an upcoming public meeting dealing with the transfer on Monday, December 13.

Morales believes utility ratepayers will be effected by the change as well as the PPL Corporations ability to work within the current environmental standards.

“There are simply far too many questions regarding the detrimental effects ratepayers will likely endure if this proposed transfer in ownership takes place.  While Rhode Islanders already pay some of the highest utility rates in the country, I fear that this proposed transfer in operations will drive these prices even higher, further increasing the cost of living for working people who are simply trying to access the basic necessities of power and warmth.  In order to protect the economic well-being of Rhode Island’s ratepayers and ensure that we are doing everything as a state to urgently address climate change, I urge the DPUC to delay the transfer of Narragansett Electric to the PPL Corporation,” said Representative Morales.

“It’s clear the transfer of Narragansett Electric to the PPL Corporation is not in the best interest of Rhode Islanders. Instead, our state government should be working towards a utility system that is publicly owned, protects working people from rate hikes, and prioritizes our transition to 100% renewable energy. This Monday, we will be attending the DPUC meeting to advocate against this transfer, raise the issue of why profit is being prioritized over the basic needs of providing working people with resilient, affordable electricity, and to call for a power system owned by the people of our state ,” said Nationalize Grid, a community group working with Representative Morales.

“I’m concerned that this transfer of our utility will set our state back from meeting the obligations set by the Act on Climate given the transition costs and unproven experience of PPL. When you combine that with the detrimental effects this will likely have on our utility customers, this transfer is not in the best interest of the public. Therefore, I am asking that the DPUC delay the transfer of Narragansett Electric to the PPL Corporation. Furthermore, as a state government, we need to seriously consider the plausibility and benefits of finally having public ownership over our utility system,” concluded Representative Morales.

The public hearing will be Monday, December 13 at 10:00 p.m. in the first floor hearing room of the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers in Warwick, R.I. The hearing will be streamed live here.