Order 25578 - RI Energy: Filing of Industrial Retail Prices

This matter is before the Public Utilities Commission (Commission) upon the Narragansett Electric Company d/b/a Rhode Island Energy’s (the Company) October 22, 2025, filing of its Last Resort Service (LRS) for the Industrial Group for the months of January 2026 through March 2026.[1]  The filing was made in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws. § 39-1-27.3(c) and the 2025 Last Resort Service Procurement Plan (2025 Procurement Plan).  Previously, the 2025 Procurement Plan was approved by the Commission on November 21, 2024.[2]  Additionally, in conjunction, the Company also filed a Motion for Protective Treatment of Confidential Information to grant protection from public disclosure certain confidential information submitted by the Company.

According to the Company’s filing, the three-month average of the proposed January 2026 through March 2026 Industrial Group LRS rate is $0.1626/kWh.[3]  The proposed rates change from month-to-month: the Company proposed a rate of $0.17851 per kWh for January; $0.16909 per kWh for February; and $0.14024 per kWh for March.  

            On November 14, 2025, the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (Division) filed its memorandum, having reviewed the Company’s filings.  The Division determined that the proposed LRS rates were correctly calculated and that the power supply procurements undertaken by the Company comply with the Commission’s approve procurement plan.[4]  Additionally, the Division noted that the proposed 2026 winter rates are on par with the last two years and considerably lower than average prices during the 2022-2023 timeframe.  Moreover, the Division noted that most industrial customers obtain their power supply on the competitive market, and therefore the proposed rates impact a limited number of customers.  The Division recommended approval of the proposed LRS rates for the Industrial Group as filed.[5]

Decision

            After a review of the filings and the Division’s memorandum, the Commission approves the Company’s proposed LRS rates for the Industrial Group for the period of January 2026 through March 2026.  The Commission also approves the Company’s motion for confidential treatment as to financially sensitive documents pertaining to the Company’s LRS supply procurement.  The Commission finds that disclosure would likely cause substantial harm to the Company’s competitive position, and the records contain commercially sensitive market information that warrant being protected from public disclosure.[6]

            Accordingly, it is hereby:

1.      The Company’s Motion for Protective Treatment of Confidential Information of a Procurement Summary (within Attachment 5), including Exhibits 2-11 to the Procurement Summary and three Transaction Confirmations (within Attachment 6) as filed by the Company on October 31, 2025, is hereby granted.  The records shall be exempt from public disclosure under R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(B); and

2.      The Company’s proposed LRS rates for the Industrial Group for the period of January 1, 2026, through March 31, 2026, are hereby approved as filed.

EFFECTIVE AT WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND ON DECEMBER 1, 2025, PURSUANT TO OPEN MEETING DECISIONS ON DECEMBER 1, 2025, WRITTEN ORDER ISSUED JANUARY 8, 2025.