Rep. Dennis M. Canario (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton) is warning ratepayers and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) that National Grid’s recent 19 percent rate increase request for the coming winter months will result in a “troublesome domino effect” that will fall on the backs of Rhode Island’s residents.
“A 19 percent rate increase during the winter is concerning enough, but ultimately, this proposal will be passed on to ratepayers in more than one way. Small and large businesses, take restaurants for example, will be forced to pass along these new utility costs to their customers, taking even more dollars out of the wallets of hard-working Rhode Islanders. This troublesome domino effect should be taken into account when hopefully the PUC rejects this outrageous rate increase proposal from National Grid,” said Representative Canario in a press release on Tuesday.
If the PUC approves National Grid’s request, the increased rates would go into effect in October of this year.
