Energy Council of Rhode Island

	Intervened on behalf of its members in electricity and natural gas rate cases before the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), frequently reducing proposed rate increases or shifting costs to remove subsidies.
	Led the way in 1994 towards true competition and market-based pricing of electricity and natural gas by submitting a petition to the Division of Public Utilities to study issues involved in deregulation and customer choice in buying these commodities.
	Played a major role in the implementation of the R.I. Utility Restructuring Act of 1996 (URA) which TEC-RI believes requires revision.
	Assumed an active role in the utilities’ deregulation process, the unbundling of rates, divestiture, merger plans and the Standard Offer (SO) filings that establish a flat rate for generation.
	Advocate a regional review of the ISO New England wholesale electricity market in order to establish a true competitive market.
	Serves on the Demand Side Management (DSM) and Renewable Energy Advisory Groups that determine programs and expenditures of over $20 million collected from ratepayers annually.
	Played an active role in getting the renewable energy program administered by the State Energy Office.
	Argued against Year 2000 rate increases in the Standard Offer (SOS) and Last Resort Service (LRS) as being unfair to consumers and as impacting large users at a time when volatility in the market precludes buying from non-utility suppliers of electricity.
	Actively involved in recent gas deregulation process in Rhode Island and supported more rapid movement towards a true competitive environment.
	Involved in Providence Gas Business Choice.
	Urging transportation charges for interruptible gas customers to be based on cost of service not value of service (i.e. alternate fuel price).
	Watchdog on Last Resort Service and longer-term fixed prices to enable LRS customers to have a workable competitive market. The PUC should avoid rate shock and spread recovery over longer time periods during the current high volatility in energy markets.
	TEC-RI is the only advocate for large energy users before the PUC and is currently the only end user participant from Rhode Island at ISO New England with voting rights at the New England Power Pool (NEPOOL) which sets electricity transmission prices and regulates the New England market for generation.
	TEC-RI’s views are solicited and respected by the utilities, the PUC and Division of Public Utilities, and the Attorney General’s Office. We are coordinating with the Economic Development Corporation in the current rate revision scheduled to be effective in January 2005.
	Advocate more Rhode Island representation at NEPOOL and FERC to protect consumers.
	Urges more favorable back-up rates to encourage cogeneration and renewable energy usage in Rhode Island.
	TEC-RI advocates improved electricity quality of service with penalties and rewards and meaningful performance data to measure service quality.
	TEC-RI provided written testimony to the Senate Policy Office to add safeguards for ratepayers to the legislation which created a renewable portfolio standard (2004).
	TEC-RI was a party to the recent settlement with Narragansett Electric in a major rate case involving the refund of over $20 million to customers, rate relief, a 5 year rate freeze, and lower backup rates for onsite generation (Docket #3617).