PUC OKs Shekarchi-Urged RI Energy Shutdown Aid

STATE HOUSE — While Republican and Democrat Senators’ federal shutdown stalemate over extending Affordable Care Act subsidies continues, RI officials working with RI Energy have arranged relief for affected Ocean State households.

Following Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s Oct. 23 call on Rhode Island Energy to provide relief to Rhode Island households impacted by the government shutdown, RI Energy and the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission cooperated to establish multiple protections for affected households. At  Shekarchi’s urging, RI Energy voluntarily agreed to multiple protection measures, including a halt on termination of gas and electric service and the application of payment holds without penalty on these accounts.

PUC, RI Energy, Heed Shekarchi Shutdown Aid Call

Shekarchi sent letters Oct. 23 to J. Gregory Cornett, president of Rhode Island Energy, and Ronald T. Gerwatowski, chair of the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission, asking them to mirror the payment assistance program offered by National Grid in Massachusetts to federal workers who are not being paid during the government shutdown. National Grid has made federal employees, government contractors and active military personnel eligible for a payment hold on their accounts, which will not be shut off and will not accrue interest or penalties during the shutdown.

The Public Utilities Commission met Oct. 17 on an emergency basis and approved the shutdown aid for the duration of the government shutdown.

“I want to thank Rhode Island Energy for so swiftly launching a program to provide relief for Rhode Island’s federal civil servants and military personnel who are going without a paycheck while the federal shutdown continues,” said Shekarchi. “Thanks to the prompt action from both Rhode Island Energy and the Public Utilities Commission, the hardship being felt by these families will not be compounded by the fear of losing access to basic services like heat and electricity.”

 Now that the PUC has approved the shutdown aid for Rhode Island military personnel and federal workers, affected workers can call Rhode Island Energy at 855-743-1101 or visit their website for instructions on how to apply.

Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.