Senator John Tassoni Jr. of Smithfield and North Smithfield today showed his anger against the Narragansett Electric rate hike presented to the Public Utilities Commission.
The electric company asked the PUC for a nine percent increase as of June 1. The inrease would come after the approved five to 12.8 percent increase already approved by the PUC.
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“It is outrageous that, if the electric company has its way, consumers will be faced with a rate hike of over 14 percent,” said Tassoni. “Many consumers are alreayd struggling to pay their bills, and this additional burden may result in their utilities being shut off because they can no longer afford it, particularly in light of today’s economy.”
The Senator went on to say that “utility companis are balancing their books on the backs of consumers.”
“How many times do we go to the well? Gas, phone, and now electric! What’s next?”
On May 15, the George Wiley Center of Pawtucket is expected to submit a plan that would provide a discount for utility services the poor based on their income. The earlier request for a nine percent increase could possibly be voted on by the PUC at a public hearing on May 28.
Bloomberg News
