City of Providence Announces Summer Rates for Providence Community Electricity Program

City of Providence Announces Summer Rates for Providence Community Electricity Program

City’s default electricity option prices drop from 16.287 cents/kWh to 10.014 cents/kWh

Today, the City of Providence announced the new summer electricity supply rate for the Providence Community Electricity Program, effective with the May 2025 meter read. Prices will be substantially decreasing, from 16.287 cents/kWh this past winter down to 10.014 cents/kWh for the City’s default electricity option. The new prices will be fixed for six months through customers’ November 2025 meter read. Current participants do not need to take any action to remain in the program and receive the new pricing for the product in which they are currently enrolled.  

“We know that utility rates have been rising, and I’m pleased that we are able to provide a more affordable and sustainable option for our community,” said Mayor Brett P. Smiley. “Since taking office, I have prioritized building strong partnerships and supporting initiatives that create a more sustainable and resilient city. Through the Providence Community Electricity program, we are making it easier than ever for our community to reduce their carbon footprint, lower their electricity bills and support a greener, more resilient future for Providence.”

The Providence Community Electricity Program, launched in 2023, was designed to help residents and local businesses manage electricity costs, increase renewable energy use and reduce carbon pollution. This May, Providence Community Electricity will have served the community for two years. The City is pleased to have delivered on the program’s goals of offering residents and businesses cleaner electricity, at affordable prices. Through the end of 2024, PCE has delivered $3.2 million in savings, with $2.4 million in savings coming from residential participation.

Most participants in Providence’s program use “Providence Standard,” which offers 5% more renewable energy than Rhode Island Energy’s Last Resort Service. The additional renewable energy is sourced entirely from local Rhode Island projects, including the Narragansett Bay Commission wind turbines at Fields Point in Providence, solar in West Greenwich and additional wind turbines in Coventry. Residents and businesses may also choose to increase the renewable energy content of their electricity supply to 50% or 100% renewable at any time. Enrollees are allowed to opt-out of the program at any time with no cost.

The table below shows the prices for Residential customers compared to RI Energy. Prices for Commercial and Industrial customers can be found on the program website: electricity.providenceri.gov.

 

The Last Resort Service Rate above reflects the total rate as filed by Rhode Island Energy in dockets PUC 25-03-EL and the rate has not yet been approved by the PUC as of March 17, 2025. The Providence Community Electricity Program cannot guarantee savings compared to Rhode Island Energy Last Resort Service for the duration of the Program pricing because future Last Resort Service prices are unknown.

Providence is part of a group of seven municipalities who shared in launching the first municipal aggregation programs in Rhode Island. Barrington, Central Falls, Narragansett, Newport, Portsmouth, Providence and South Kingstown are all working with Good Energy as their consultant and share a common electricity supplier and pricing.

The voluntary renewable energy content in the program’s standard and optional products comes from projects that qualify as RI New and makes a sizable impact on the City’s carbon footprint. Providence participants annually purchase more than 20,000 megawatt-hours of voluntary renewable energy, equivalent to displacing over 14 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.

This is a City-operated program open to all Providence residents and businesses. To join, complete the enrollment form on the program website electricity.providenceri.gov or call the program’s supplier, NextEra Energy Services Rhode Island, at (888) 387-1084. Participants may leave the program at any time without fees or penalties. Visit the program website to review all program options available and to submit any questions via the program contact form electricity.providenceri.gov.

The City also encourages Providence residents and businesses to access ratepayer-fund energy efficiency programs and no-cost energy assessments. Schedule a no-cost home energy efficiency assessment by calling 888-633-7947 or at rienergy.com (small business call 1-877-784-3709 or email energyefficiency@rienergy.com). If you qualify for utility assistance and receive a discounted electric rate or want to determine eligibility, call 401-351-1800.