Paul J Roberti – RI Future

The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (RIPUC) today adopted “emergency regulations” designed to make it easier for those who have fallen behind on their payments to National Grid to restore power and heat to their homes. Margaret E Curran, chair of the board, lead fellow commissioners Paul J Roberti and Herbert F DeSimone Jr in an unanimous vote to allow people to get their power restored for a 15 percent payment of the total owed upfront plus the adoption of a regular payment plan. Currently that number can be 50 percent or higher.

The George Wiley Center made the request on behalf of utility customers, as they have for the last seven years, but had requested the number be set at 10 percent. After some discussion, Curran arrived at 15 percent because in the past there was a tiered system that allowed for down payments of between 10 and 20 percent. Curran eliminated the tiers and came up with 15 percent as a compromise.

In the past it was routine to allow these emergency regulations to last for 3 months, but in the last two years this was shortened to thirty days. Curran suggested that the new thirty day mark is somehow “traditional,” though one might argue that recent changes to a tradition are not themselves traditional. Given the shortened time, it’s important, says George Wiley organizer Camilo Viveiros, to get the word out to families and individuals in need.

Over thirty people attended today’s RIPUC meeting a good crowd considering the last minute change in date and time of the meeting. Had the board met when originally planned, people would be that much closer to having their power restored. Though the board’s ruling came as a relief to many, to some it will have little effect. Anna told me that she has spent money she might have used to reinstate her gas heat to purchase electric space heaters. In order to have the money back on her debit card in time, she will have to return the space heaters today, wait for the money to be back on her card early next week, and make her payment then. This means that she and her children will be in a house with no heat all weekend.

Today’s ruling has no effect on those affected by National Grid’s policy of ignoring rules against shutting off power on the elderly and those suffering from illnesses. That lawsuit is still ongoing.

Further complicating this year’s execution of emergency relief is Governor Gina Raimondo‘s executive order 15-07, which will have the impact of delaying this much needed emergency regulation. Under this order, rules adopted by the RIPUC need to be reviewed and signed off on by the Office of Regulatory Reform (ORR) prior to the effective date. Why the governor is mandating the adoption of bureaucratic practices that delay good policy is not yet clear. The governor’s office has been asked for comment. The policy was supported by both Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello and Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed.

Despite these difficulties, today’s ruling is good news for many Rhode Islanders suffering from shut-offs due to financial constraints.

2015-10-30 RIPUC 004 — Margaret E Curran

2015-10-30 RIPUC 003 — Herbert F DeSimone Jr

The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (PUC) today decided to not grant National Grid the nearly 25% price increase it asked for, but instead approved a 14% increase that will allow National Grid to come back in the Summer to ask for more money. The decision was met with anger and outrage by the over one hundred people who packed the small meeting room to oppose the increase.

As PUC Chairperson Margaret Curran and Commissioners Paul J Roberti and Herbert F DeSimone, Jr discussed options, which by law must be conducted in an “open” meeting, activists, protesters and frustrated, cash-strapped homeowners kept up a steady barrage of angry comments, admonishing the board for not taking a stand against National Grid and corporate greed.

The PUC Commissioners did their best to ignore the comments, but occasionally, out of exasperation, could not help themselves.

“We had a hearing last week,” said Commissioner DeSimone.

“Public comment has been done,” said Commissioner Curran.

“A dog and pony show!” replied an angry protester.

Still, the PUC board persevered, despite showing obvious signs of discomfort and annoyance (that pale to insignificance when matched against the discomfort and annoyance people will feel when these rate hikes cause their families to lose their homes, children and elderly to miss meals and all of us to lower our standard of living to accommodate National Grid profits.) With affected dispassion the board revealed that they do not have the power to tell National Grid “no,” confirming the crowd’s suspicions that the board is little more than a rubber stamp for whatever rates National Grid seeks to impose.

It was also revealed by the board that the PUC must always prioritize the financial health of National Grid, whereas the economic impacts of rate increases on Rhode Island residents are not factored. Early on the issue was presented as being about pipeline capacity, an obvious red herring given that no increase in pipeline capacity could have an effect on electric rates for at least eight years, and the pipeline expansion requested is for exporting natural gas, not for use in Rhode Island.

Perhaps the attitudes of the PUC and the protesters can best be summed up in this short clip:

Upon passage of the increase, the crowd broke into chants of “Shame! Shame! Shame!” and “Hey Hey, Ho Ho, Corporate Greed has Got to Go!” Nearby I heard a man say to his friend, “The state is only a mechanism for managing capital.”

Then the PUC discussed the impact this rate increase will have on seasonal businesses, which they then proceeded to do everything in their power to mitigate. “Seasonal businesses are one of the backbones or Rhode island’s economy,” said Commissioner DeSimone. ‘What about people?” asked someone from the crowd. The commissioners ignored the question and the crowd. Someone else asked, “We’re not even an issue any more, are we?”

It was clear that the meeting was, for all intents and purposes, over. National Grid got the rate increase they wanted said protesters, (not the one they asked for, 25%, but the one they wanted, 14%) and the people, especially those who are most economically vulnerable, lost.

Happy Holidays, everyone.

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Tag: Paul J Roberti

RIPUC adopts emergency regulations to help shut-off victims

National Grid gets their Holiday wish, the rest of us, not so much