National Grid seeing $1.3B in R.I. infrastructure spending by 2019

NATIONAL GRID announced that it is planning on making $1.3 billion in infrastructure upgrades in Rhode Island for natural gas and electricity delivery through 2019.
NATIONAL GRID announced that it is planning on making $1.3 billion in infrastructure upgrades in Rhode Island for natural gas and electricity delivery through 2019.

PROVIDENCE – National Grid says it’s planning to pump $1.3 billion into Rhode Island gas and electric infrastructure projects through March 2019.

The company says the projects, which began in April, are underway and aim to strengthen the state’s delivery infrastructure in order to meet growing energy demands. National Grid – serving 492,000 electric and 257,000 gas customers in Rhode Island – already has invested $290 million in its first year of the plan, which will run through March of next year.

The announcement comes at the heels of mounting criticism over a proposed energy rate increase planned for Jan. 1.

Lt. Gov.-elect Dan McKee predicts rates on business owners could increase 30 percent. Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin has said that individual rates could go up about 26 percent. Both have filed motions to intervene with the Public Utilities Commission, slated to meet on Dec. 16, and its review of the proposed increases.

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Despite the proposed rate increases, however, the gas and electric infrastructure upgrades will be funded through its customer delivery rates, which are “expected to remain stable,” through the five-year spending plan, according to a press release.

“By making proactive updates and enhancements to our gas and electric systems in Rhode Island, we can ensure that we can effectively meet growing energy demands for years to come,” said Timothy Horan, president of National Grid Rhode Island, in a statement.

Several electric projects are underway or have already been completed in areas of Cranston, Cumberland, Jamestown, Johnston, Warwick and Woonsocket, according to the release.

Planned, or completed, gas system projects include replacing 53 miles of cast iron and unprotected steel, a natural gas expansion pilot program in six Rhode Island areas, and relocating three gas regulator stations in Westerly, among others.

“These updates, particularly our major construction projects that have already begun, will help our state’s economy grow, and help us better serve our customers as we move forward,” Horan said in a statement.

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