The Public Utilities Commission, per Docket 1725, requests data from National Grid on the number of utility payment plans it negotiates with Rhode Island residential customers, the number of payment plans that are broken and the dollars involved. Since February 2008, as the George Wiley Center fought for flexible payment plans for heating bills, an entry for “special arrangements” is now listed on the ELECTRIC utility termination report. The “Flexible Plan” entry on the GAS side remains empty.

As the number of “special arrangements” has increased, the number of protected class of customers getting shut-off has decreased. Rather than collecting $0 on a broken plan that is too large to pay, National Grid's Gas division collects what people with low-income can afford to pay. Money comes in and — gas-powered heat, hot water and stoves stay on. A win-win!

Wednesday, July 16th, George Wiley Center members succeeded in persuading the Public Utilities Commission to look into the Termination Rules with an eye toward making them flexible. All Rhode Island residents who struggle to pay their bills deserve basic electric service in their homes. Now is the time to create rules that work — instead of those that are punitive and have an unacceptably high failure rate.

Alert!  A new utility law, S2608aa, is now on the books.

This act would prevent the shut off of gas or electric services in any residence where a child under the age of two years old resides.

Rhode Island Low-Income Heating Energy Assistance Information

A Consumer's Guide to Home Energy Savings is designed to provide up-to-date information you need to reduce energy use in your home.

Link-Up and Lifeline, two federally subsidized Telephone service programs may be available to those who receive assistance from food stamps, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income or other programs. Check to find out if you are eligible. Or, you can check eligibility by calling the Federal Communications Commission's Consumer Center toll-free (888) 225-5322.

Rhode Island Utility Consumers' Bill of Rights Brochure Microsoft Word file

The brochure is a project funded in part by an IOLTA Grant from the Rhode Island Bar Foundation.

RI Utilidade dos Consumidores Bill dos direitos brochura Microsoft Word file

RI Public Utilities Commission Rules & Regulations re: termination of residential electric, water & gas utilities.   .pdf file (59 pages) Acrobat Reader req.

“[T]he more folks understand the impact of National Grid's [rate] request the better. If National Grid's leadership and stockholders have a 20% increase in profits rather than the 24% they realized last year, I'm confident they'll still be able to feed their families.” - Darlene Briggs Magaw, M.S., Director of Family Support Services at Family Resources Community Action, Woonsocket, RI

Read Magaw's June 10, 2008 testimony at a hearing before the Public Utilities Commission in Woonsocket, RI.