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Rhode Island · Updated August 2026
Rhode Island Energy rates in 2026
What Rhode Island Energy customers are actually paying, where the number comes from, and what it means for your bill. Serving Providence, Warwick, Cranston, Pawtucket, Woonsocket and nearly all of Rhode Island.
~29.5¢All-in residential rate — 5th highest in the U.S.Top Solar Contractor, Solar Power World · Inc. 5000 · 20,000+ installations
The numbers
Where Rhode Island Energy stands right now
| Measure | Current | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| All-in residential rate | ~29.5¢ | EIA, May 2026 — supply + delivery + riders |
| Standard offer supply rate | 14.77¢ | Base usage rate, effective October 1 |
| National ranking | 5th highest | Of all 50 states |
| vs national average | +72% | National residential average ~17.2¢ |
Figures as published August 2026. Utility rates change on published schedules — check your own bill for the rate that applies to your account.
Why the number is what it is
What is actually driving this
ISO New England capacity costs
Rhode Island Energy buys from the same ISO New England wholesale market as every other Rhode Island utility. Capacity auction prices have climbed sharply and pass through to customers.
Data center demand
Large computing loads across the ISO New England footprint are arriving faster than new generation is being built, and the transmission to serve them is recovered from ratepayers.
Community aggregation is an option, but a small one
Rhode Island Energy adjusts its Price to Compare four times a year rather than twice. That means smaller individual changes but more of them.
The honest cost picture
Rhode Island makes you choose: REG or net metering
Most states give you net metering and that is the end of it. Rhode Island gives you two paths and you pick one per system — you cannot have both.
| Path | What you get | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Renewable Energy Growth (REG) | 31.55¢/kWh | 15 years, systems 1–15 kW |
| REG, larger systems | 28.65¢/kWh | 20 years, systems 15–25 kW |
| Net metering | ~80% of retail | Ongoing bill credit |
The REG tariff pays a fixed rate on everything your system produces, at 31.55¢ — above what you currently pay Rhode Island Energy. Net metering credits you at roughly 80% of retail against what you use. Which is better depends on your usage pattern, and it is the first thing we work out on the call.
Rhode Island also exempts solar from the 7% state sales tax and from local property tax statewide, and the Renewable Energy Fund offers an upfront grant. Those stack with either path.
Two ways to pay for solar, and they are very different
If you buy the system
You own the equipment, you keep any renewable energy credits, and you carry the maintenance responsibility. Installed pricing varies by roof, shading and system size.
If you use a PPA
$0 upfront. We install and own the system; you buy the power it produces at a rate set in your agreement, and you only pay for what it actually generates. The system owner carries maintenance for the life of the agreement.
The residential federal tax credit (25D) ended for systems purchased after December 31, 2025.
You will still see ads promising a 30% credit that “ends December 31.” Read the date on them. If you buy a system today as a homeowner, you cannot claim that credit. What remains applies to the owner of the system — which, under a PPA, is us. SolarAmerica does not provide tax advice; talk to your tax professional about your situation.
Who you would be working with
SolarAmerica
We design your system and manage the project; installation is performed by vetted licensed partners in your area.
Rhode Island Energy questions
The things people actually ask
Why is Rhode Island Energy's Price to Compare lower than PPL's but the all-in rate higher?
Because the two numbers measure different things. Rhode Island Energy's supply charge is lower; its distribution charges and riders are higher. What matters to your budget is the all-in figure — your bill divided by your kilowatt-hours.
How often does this change?
Four times a year: March, June, September and December.
Can I shop for supply?
Yes. Rhode Island is deregulated, and switching suppliers changes only the supply portion of your bill.
See what your roof and Rhode Island Energy actually add up to
About 60 seconds. No cost, no obligation, and we will tell you if solar does not make sense for your home.
Top Solar Contractor, Solar Power World · 20,000+ installations · Licensed installers