Heat pump users in RI are overpaying on electricity by $900 a year, study says
Key Points
- A new report estimates Rhode Island heat pump owners overpay an average of $902 annually on their electric bills.
- Environmental groups are advocating for a discounted electric rate for heat pump users to reflect their lower impact on the grid during peak summer demand.
- Switching to heat pumps is a key part of Rhode Island’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings.
- Rhode Island Energy has agreed to study the issue and propose potential bill credits for heat pump customers.
How much are heat pump owners in Rhode Island overpaying on their electric bills?
About $902 dollars on average every year.
That’s the estimate contained in a new report commissioned by several regional and national environmental organizations.
Under the settlement, Rhode Island Energy acknowledged the discrepancy and committed to take a look at the numbers and come up with an estimate for what it believes heat pump owners could be owed.
The advocacy groups behind the new report – the Environmental Defense Fund, Conservation Law Foundation, Green Energy Consumers Alliance, Acadia Center and Sierra Club – argue that heat pump owners don’t just deserve bill credits, but a discounted electric rate that would reflect the actual costs they incur on the electric grid.
To read the full article from the Providence Journal, click here.