Options To Lower Electric Bills For Portsmouth Residents Begin In May

PORTSMOUTH, RI — Portsmouth residents could be able to save on their electricity bills beginning later this spring, when city officials launch an energy aggregation program in May.

Portsmouth is one of several cities and towns in the Ocean State developing an alternative way to buy electricity from Rhode Island Energy.

Town officials said under the initial terms of the program, Portsmouth Community Electricity will offer a standard electricity option that will cost less than the rate from Rhode Island Energy while using 5 percent more renewable energy than required by state law.

Customers eligible for automatic enrollment in Portsmouth Community Electricity will receive a notification letter by early March. Sent via U.S. mail, the letter explains the electricity supply offers and participation options.

If you receive the notification letter, your account will be automatically enrolled in Portsmouth Standard at 9.361 cents per kilowatt-hour, starting on your May 2023 meter read. No action is necessary to receive this price.

If you do not receive a letter, you will not be automatically enrolled. You may join the program by submitting a request to enroll here.

The town is part of a group of seven cities and towns in Rhode Island launching the state’s first municipal aggregation programs: Barrington, Central Falls, Narragansett, Newport, Portsmouth, Providence and South Kingstown. Each community is launching their own distinct program in May 2023, but combined their buying power to procure a common electricity supplier, Next Era Energy Services.

Portsmouth will hold public meetings to learn more about the electrical aggregation program. Check back for updates.