Rates & Terms

The Block Island Power Company is a recipient of Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age , disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation,
genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

CHARGES
1. CUSTOMER CHARGE: THE PORTION OF YOUR BILL THAT COVERS BASIC COSTS OF PROVIDING SERVICE SUCH AS METERING, ADMINISTERING THE SMART METER APPLICATIONS AND BILLING. THESE CHARGES ARE UNAFFECTED BY THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY THAT YOU USE.
2. SYSTEM CHARGE: THIS CHARGE APPLIES TO THOSE CUSTOMERS WHOSE KILOWATT-HOUR USE IN THE SUMMER BILLING PERIOD MONTHS (JUNE-SEPT) EXCEEDS TWO (2) TIMES THE CUSTOMER’S AVERAGE KILOWATT-HOUR USAGE IN THE PRECEEDING EIGHT WINTER BILLING MONTHS (OCT-MAY). THE SYSTEM CHARGE WILL BE APPLIED IN EACH SUMMER BILLING MONTH.
3. PLANT AND DISTRIBUTION CHARGE (WAS CALLED ENERGY CHARGE IN THE PAST): THIS PORTION OF YOUR BILL COVERS THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MAINTAINING THE GENERATING PLANT AND DISTRIBUTION DELIVERY SYSTEM. THE CHARGE IS CALCULATED BY MULTIPLYING THE RATE BY THE NUMBER OF KILOWATT-HOURS USED.
4. DEMAND CHARGE: THIS PORTION OF YOUR BILL APPLIES IF YOU EXCEED 8 KW OF USAGE FOR ONE FIFTEEN MINUTE PERIOD WITHIN THE MOST RECENT 24 MONTHS OR WHOSE ANNUAL USAGE EXCEEDS 20,000 KWH. THE DEMAND CHARGE IS BASED ON YOUR HIGHEST DEMAND RECORDS ON A 15 MINUTE INTERVAL WITHIN THE BILLING PERIOD.
5. TRANSMISSION CHARGE (TMC): THIS PORTION OF YOUR BILL COVERS THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION COSTS THE BLOCK ISLAND POWER COMPANY IS SUBJECT TO. THIS RATE IS APPLIED TO ALL KILOWATT HOURS CONSUMED ON THIS RATE.
6. STANDARD OFFER CHARGE (SOC): THIS PORTION OF YOUR BILL COVERS THE COST OF ENERGY AND CAPACITY PURCHASED BY THE BLOCK ISLAND POWER COMPANY AND OTHER FEES CHARGED BY THE ISO-NE. THIS RA TE IS APPLIED TO ALL KILOWATT HOURS CONSUMED ON THIS RATE.
7. FUEL ADJUSTMENT CHARGE: THIS PORTION OF THE BILL VARIES EACH MONTH AND ONLY APPLIES TO KWH USAGE WHEN THE BACKUP GENERATION IS RUNNING, SUCH AS DURING CABLE OUTAGES. IT INCLUDES THE COST OF FUEL TRANSPORTAION OF THE FUEL. 
8. DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS (DSI): THIS PORTION OF YOUR BILL IS A ONE CENT PER KILOWATT-HOUR CHARGE DURING THE MONTHS OF JUNE-SEPTEMBER TO FUND AN INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLANNING PROCESS SET FORTH IN PUC DOCKET 3655 AND IS INTENDED TO FUND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS.
9. ENERGY EFFICIENCY CHARGE: THIS SURCHARGE FUNDS THE BLOCK ISLAND UTILITY DISTRICT ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM. OUR FUNDS ARE MATCHED BY THE RI-OFFICE OF ENERGY. THE SURCHARGE IS APPLIED TO EACH KILOWATT-HOUR CONSUMED IN MAY-OCTOBER.
10. RHODE ISLAND RENEWABLE ENERGY FUND: THIS SURCHARGE APPLIES TO EACH KILOWATT-HOUR CONSUMED AND IS PAID TO THE RI COMMERCE DEPARTMENT TO FUND IN-STATE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT ALL RI RATE ELECTRIC CONSUMERS. MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT:
https://commerceri.com/financing/renewable-energy-fund

RIGHT TO DISPUTE YOUR BILL AND TO AN IMPARTIAL HEARING
IF YOU BELIEVE YOUR BILL IS INACCURATE OR FOR ANY REASON PAYMENT MAY BE WITHHELD, YOU SHOULD FIRST CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT 466-5851. IF A MUTUALLY SATISFACTORY SETTLEMENT OF THIS MATTER CANNOT BE MADE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SUBMIT THIS MATTER TO:
REVIEW OFFICER, PUBLIC UTILITIES DIVISION
86 JEFFERSON BLVD. WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND 02888 (401) 941-4500
BLOCK ISLAND POWER COMPANY WILL NOT DISCONNECT YOUR SERVICE PENDING PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COMMISSION.

PROTECTION AGAINST TERMINATION OF SERVICE OR THE RIGHT TO RESTORATION OF SERVICE IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS EXIST:

1. EVERYONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD IS SIXTY-TWO (62) OR OLDER
2. ANY MEMBER OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD IS HANDICAPPED OR SERIOUSLY ILL AS CERTIFIED BY A LICENSED PHYSICIAN
3. YOU ARE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN A RESIDENTIAL PAYMENT PLAN.
4. IF SERVICE IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE HEALTH, WELFARE AND SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE DWELLING AS SET FORTH N THE RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE TERMINATION OF RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC SERVICE, DATED APRIL 11, 2012.
5. INFANT AND FINANCIAL HARDSHIP PROTECTION-BIPCO WILL NOT TERMINATE ELECTRIC SERVICE IN ANY RESIDENCE IN WHICH THERE IS DOMICILED A PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY-FOUR MONTHS AND THE CUSTOMER’S SERVICE HAS NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY SHUT OFF FOR FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AS DEFINED IN THE RIPUC RULES.
   THE COMPANY SHALL REQUIRE CERTIFICATION OF SUCH INFANCY BY BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR OTHER VERIFIABLE CERTIFICATION. SUCH CERTIFICATION SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT WITHOUT RENEWAL UNTIL THE INFANT REACHES THE AGE OF TWENTY-FOUR MONTHS. ADDITIONALLY, DURING THE WINTER SEASON (NOVEMBER 1-APRIL 1)
6. YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR HEATING ASSISTANCE AID AS VERIFIED BY THE AGENCY ADMINISTERING THIS ASSISTANCE.
7. THE PRINCIPAL WAGE EARNER IS CURRENTLY RECEIVING UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION AS VERIFIED BY THE DEPT. OF LABOR AND TRAINING.
8. YOUR DELINQUENT BALANCE IS LESS THAN $500 IF ELECTRICITY IS YOUR PRIMARY SOURCE OF HEAT OR LESS THAN $200 FOR SECONDARY USE OF ELECTRICITY
   
   PAYMENT PLANS

   A VARIETY OF PAYMENT PLANS ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP CUSTOMERS MANAGE THEIR ELECTRIC ACCOUNTS. PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICE FOR INFORMATION 466-5851.

   RECONNECTION CHARGE
   DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS    $25.00
   AFTER NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS       $50.00

   FAILURE TO RECEIVE AN ELECTRIC BILL DOES NOT EXCUSE ANYONE FROM PAYING THE MONTHLY BILL. INTEREST AND PENALTIES WILL ACCRUE.
   BIPCO REQUIRES A DEPOSIT ON NEW ELECTRIC ACCOUNTS. THE DEPOSIT WILL BE RETAINED BY BIPCO UNTIL THE ELECTRIC ACCOUNT IS CLOSED.
   ALL BILLS ARE DUE WHEN RENDERED AND ARE CONSIDERED OVERDUE IF NOT PAID BY THE DUE DATE. A LATE FEE OF 1.5% PER MONTH WILL BE ASSESSED ON ALL BALANCES THAT ARE PAST DUE. A $20 FEE WILL BE CHARGED TO CUSTOMER FOR EACH CHECK PRESENTED FOR PAYMENT NOT HONORED BY THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION