Electricity Prices
Rhode Island residential electricity rates average about 29.9 cents per kWh, among the highest in the nation, reflecting regional grid costs and limited in-state generation.
Electricity price per kWh (Northeast region)
1979–2024BLS Average Price Data, annual average (APU010072610).
Natural gas price for power plants
1997–2024U.S. EIA Natural Gas Annual, price delivered to electric power consumers (N3045RI3).
| Indicator | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Residential electricity price (cents/kWh) | 29.9 | 16.2 |
- •Rhode Island's electricity rates are more than double the U.S. national average.
Energy Production
Rhode Island generated about 6.3 TWh of electricity in 2023, one of the smallest totals of any state due to its compact size and lack of large-scale generation facilities.
| Indicator | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Net generation (TWh) | 6.3 | 4300 |
- •Rhode Island's electricity generation of 6.3 TWh is among the lowest of any U.S. state.
Renewable Energy
Renewables supplied about 10% of Rhode Island's electricity generation in 2023, with the state targeting 100% renewable electricity by 2033 through offshore wind and solar expansion.
Renewables share of total energy consumption
1960–2024U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, renewable energy (RETCB) ÷ total energy consumption (TETCB).
Renewable energy consumption
1960–2024U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, all renewable sources (RETCB), consumption in billion Btu.
Hydroelectric power
1960–2024U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, hydroelectric power (HYTCB), consumption in billion Btu.
| Indicator | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Renewable share of generation (%) | 10 | 21.4 |
- •Rhode Island was the first U.S. state to host an operating offshore wind farm, Block Island Wind Farm.
Solar Energy
Rhode Island has about 200 MW of installed solar capacity, supported by state incentives and net metering programs that have driven steady growth in distributed solar.
Solar energy consumption
1989–2024U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, solar, all uses (SOTCB), consumption in billion Btu.
| Indicator | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Installed solar capacity (MW) | 200 | 13500 |
- •Rhode Island's solar growth has been fueled by its Renewable Energy Growth Program.
Wind Energy
Rhode Island's offshore wind capacity totals 434 MW, combining the pioneering 30 MW Block Island Wind Farm with the partially built 704 MW Revolution Wind project.
Wind energy consumption
2010–2024U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, wind (WYTCB), consumption in billion Btu.
| Indicator | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Offshore wind capacity (MW) | 434 | 2100 |
- •Block Island Wind Farm, built in 2016, was the first offshore wind farm in the United States.
Natural Gas
Natural gas accounts for about 89% of Rhode Island's electricity generation, making the state's grid one of the most gas-dependent in the country.
Residential natural gas price
1967–2024U.S. EIA Natural Gas Annual, price delivered to residential consumers (N3010RI3).
Natural gas consumption
1997–2024U.S. EIA Natural Gas Annual, total consumption (NA1490_SRI_2).
| Indicator | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas share of generation (%) | 89 | 43 |
- •Rhode Island has no coal-fired power plants remaining, relying almost entirely on natural gas for fossil generation.
Energy Consumption
Rhode Island's per-capita energy consumption is about 162 million Btu, the lowest of any U.S. state, reflecting its small size, mild industrial base, and dense urban layout.
Total energy consumption
1960–2024U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, all sources (TETCB), consumption in billion Btu.
Transportation sector energy consumption
1960–2024U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, transportation sector (TEACB), consumption in billion Btu.
Natural gas consumption
1997–2024U.S. EIA Natural Gas Annual, total consumption.
| Indicator | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Per-capita energy consumption (MMBtu) | 162 | 265 |
- •Rhode Island uses less energy per capita than any other U.S. state.