What an odd article. They present the 3% increase for natural gas as the annual amount of $51 as some insurmountable amount and then when it comes to the 25% decrease in electrical rate, they call it a “slim margin” and present as only a monthly savings of $17 instead of presenting it similar to the natural gas increase ($204 decrease annualized, if you didn’t do the math).

Just such a weird way to write an article and indicates a bit of a lean in the author’s narrative.

No fan of RIE, but subversive journalism isn’t the answer.

I agree it’s subversive, but it doesn’t take away the fact they are trying to continue to raise prices when they should be lowering. Hopefully this gets shut down.

And this is why I write fuck you on the subject line of my checks to them.

Just for clarity, the reason for the requested increase to rates is increased infrastructure investment, not the cost of the gas itself. The main driver is their replacement program for what they identify as "Leak Prone Pipe", as the requested new weld shop - which may have brought long-term savings - has since been removed.

Whether LPP really needs to be replaced, or if their definition of "leak prone" needs to be revised, or if their replacement schedule is too aggressive, or whatever is well beyond my expertise, but this isn't quite as clear-cut as "RIE wants to make 3% more profit so they're raising prices 3%".

Funny they presented it so sloppy, because if they did a little more research they would see the 25% decrease is only in relation to the current winter rate, it's much higher than last years summer rate. It's 36% higher than last summer, and it's actually higher than the winter 2021 rate. So there is no decrease at all for electricity. And it wouldn't be annualized because the rates are for 6months, they will jump up again in the fall.

[removed]

Do you really though?

Oh absolutely. Fuck em. If they refuse the payment that's on them, not me.

Username checks out.

The boot of......reading comprehension? Informed opinions?

The current minimum is as high as the previous maximums. Essentially telling us to get fucked.

[removed]

>why would taxpayers pay for the gas company's infrastructure improvements?

Taxpayers aren't paying for it, their customers would be.

>ok so NOW, take all the reasons you just pulled out of your as

What exactly do you think I made up? Everything I said was factual and I purposely gave no opinion

I mean gas infrastructure has to be maintained in a timely manner. Definitely don’t want to wait for something horrific to happen like in other places where they’ve ignored the infrastructure.

You think people would remember the natural gas explosions that happened in Massachusetts a few years back or half the state losing heat because of natural gas infrastructure issues.

They really don't care as long as they get paid. Heck, a human probably doesn't even see the check.

Exactly

Who’s regulating these utilities anyway?

The same people swimming around in NG/RIE's bribe money

They will continue to “lower” prices after spikes in order to set new standards. They’ll reset the baseline intermittently.

Do tell

RI Energy doesn’t even see the check. It’s sent to a processing company that opens the envelopes and writes the deposit for them. You’re just pissing off some random person that has no business taking the piss.

From experience looking at BGE projects as a contractor.

The most typically approach with an older leaky pipe (usually cast iron) is essentially inserting a plastic pipe into it (not sure if it's pipe relining). The older residential stuff usually is 3/4" to 3" inner diameter.

Fun fact, when looking at some information on the BGE system, one of the oldest still in use pipe dates back to the late 1890's.

Sticky prices are undefeated

I honestly think it's more likely they think it's hilarious, because they too would want to say fuck you to their bills.

Dead insertion is not typically used in our area due to the requirement the system be taken offline. A new system is usually installed and the customers transfered to it so those transfers can be done quickly.

What choice is there? When you have no where else to go you will do what they want.

Electric supply is deregulated in our state, you are free to choose a different supplier.

RIE has a monopoly on distribution, which is why any distribution charges they charge have a capped ROI (essentially, profit) percentage, approved by the PUC. Whether they are taking a fair ROI is a matter of opinion, but I personally see any external profitability as unreasonable; it's a universal need, it should be run by the municipality and not turn a profit, just like our water, sewer, road, etc. systems. That said, if we're stuck with a commercial model, them taking (IIRC) 5% profit seems at least less bad than it could be.

I’d love to know why the delivery services are double the supply services! delivery $94.46, $48.60 supply.

Thanks, environmentalists.

Liberal agenda! Keep voting democrat! Morons.