PROVIDENCE, RI — As Rhode Island endures one of the coldest winters in recent memory, residents are grappling with another harsh reality: monthly electricity bills that rank among the highest in the country.
Rhode Island households experience electricity costs that are ten percent (10%) higher than the national average, with eighty-eight percent (88%) saying they are paying more for energy than they were five years ago, according to new polling from Independent Women’s New England Energy Survey.
The findings reveal deep frustration among Rhode Island women over rising energy costs, concerns about grid reliability, and growing skepticism about the tradeoffs embedded in the region’s aggressive green-energy agenda.
More than half (56%) of Ocean State women believe politicians have misled voters about the effectiveness and costs of green mandates.
Rhode Island was an early adopter of green energy policies:
- In 2004, the state approved a renewable portfolio standard (RPS). In 2022, RI accelerated its RPS to be 100% renewable energy by 2033.
- In 2007, it joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to regulate carbon emissions, despite the cap-and-trade program not delivering on this goal.
- The 2021 Act on Climate mandated RI achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
- In 2023, RI aligned itself with California’s electric vehicle that mandates all new cars sold in the state be electric by 2035.
- In 2026, Governor McKee signed an executive order to reduce energy costs by $1 billion in the state.
KEY FINDINGS
The New England Women’s Energy Survey was conducted by Wick Insights among a sample of 3,000 women who are likely 2026 general election voters across the six New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont—the region with the highest electricity rates in the nation.
- 92% are concerned about rising energy costs
- 88% say they are paying more for energy than they were five years ago
- 56% believe Rhode Island politicians have misled voters about the effectiveness and costs of the green-energy transition
Geeta Chougule, Independent Women’s Network Newport Chapter Leader, said: “As a Rhode Island resident, I am tired of watching energy costs climb while family budgets fall behind. Policies that were promised to lower costs have instead made electricity and heating more expensive for working households. We all want a cleaner, more reliable energy future, but it cannot come at the expense of families struggling to afford the basics. It is time for real reforms that bring down costs and put Rhode Islanders first.”
“Rhode Island’s electricity crisis is entirely self-inflicted. Lawmakers in Providence blindly relied on aggressive green mandates and clean energy subsidies without weighing their tradeoffs. Climate policies are inherently costly, not affordable. Governor McKee’s new executive order to lower energy costs won’t have far-reaching effects unless green mandates are also repealed,” said Gabriella Hoffman, director of Independent Women’s Center for Energy and Conservation.
Thirty-two percent (32.8%) of female Rhode Island voters blamed rising energy costs on utility companies, and fifteen percent (15.5%) attributed them to federal policies, demonstrating a significant knowledge gap about the state policies behind rising costs.
Additionally, fifty-six percent (56.2%) of female voters in Rhode Island did not know about the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a policy adopted by the state government, limiting energy diversity and a more affordable energy grid, increasing electricity prices, and reducing flexibility during periods of high demand.
“Harsh winters and soaring energy costs are putting real pressure on Rhode Island households. Residents shouldn’t be paying more to keep the lights on when there are many practical reforms Rhode Island legislators can make to drive down costs today,” said Jordanne Kemper, vice president of Independent Women’s Voice. “Lawmakers must focus on making power affordable for everyone by removing regulatory barriers preventing a diverse, affordable, and reliable clean energy grid.”
More detailed poll results can be found here.
The New England region is frequently an early adopter of policy changes that can inform or influence legislation elsewhere in the country over time. The results of this poll offer a cautionary signal for states considering New England’s energy standards.
View poll results here.
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