Rhode Island

Why is it like this in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island's residential electricity rates of about 28.4¢/kWh place it among the most expensive states for home electricity, for the same structural reasons that affect the rest of New England. Gas prices are near the regional average. Through 2024 and early 2026, the result was one of the more pronounced gas-over-electric cost advantages in the country — driving on gasoline cost meaningfully less per mile than charging. The Iran conflict has temporarily flipped that: at conflict-elevated gas prices, electricity is now the cheaper per-mile option. At pre-conflict baseline prices, gasoline holds a clear advantage.

In the news · Rhode Island

• R.I. utility regulators approve 16% hike in winter electric rates starting Oct. 1

  Rhode Island Current · Sep 26, 2025

  Rhode Island's PUC approved a 16% jump in Rhode Island Energy's winter supply rate, adding $22.28/month to average bills from October 2025 — pushing Rhode Island's already sky-high electricity rates (~28–37¢/kWh seasonally) further above gasoline's per-mile cost and reinforcing gas as the cheaper fuel for PHEV drivers.

• Rhode Island Energy proposes increases in customer electric and gas service charges

  Rhode Island Current · Nov 26, 2025

  Rhode Island Energy filed for additional base-rate increases — including a $7.78/month average electric hike — on top of volatile seasonal supply charges, signaling that Rhode Island's structural electricity costs will continue rising well into 2026.

• State utility regulators slash RI Energy's capital budget as customer outrage mounts

  Rhode Island Current · Mar 28, 2025

  Rhode Island regulators rejected a large share of Rhode Island Energy's infrastructure spending plan in response to mounting ratepayer anger over some of the highest electricity prices in the continental U.S. — context that explains why even modest capital spending cuts are closely watched by PHEV owners who depend on the electric-mode cost calculation.

Curated coverage of Rhode Island's EV/PHEV cost, policy, and infrastructure story. External links open in a new tab.

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