Rhode Island Energy and solar
Rhode Island Energy is an investor-owned utility serving about 458,174 homes in Rhode Island. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 29.5¢1% above Rhode Island average
- Typical bill
- $163552 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- 25¢Full retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 4.9 yrs5.6 kW, cash
Export rules for Rhode Island Energy customers
Full retail net metering — about 25¢ per exported kWh, monthly netting.
Near-retail credit for usage offset; REG program alternative for small solar (fixed 15/20-year PBI).
Solar for a typical Rhode Island Energy home
| System | 5.6 kW (110% of 552 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $18,620, $9,380 after incentives |
| First-year savings | $1,906 |
| Payback | 4.9 years |
| 25-year net | $63,904 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 19,892
- Share of customers
- 4.3%
- Residential solar capacity
- 125 MW
- Residential customers
- 458,174
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Rhode Island Energy and solar
Does Rhode Island Energy have net metering?
Near-retail credit for usage offset; REG program alternative for small solar (fixed 15/20-year PBI). Exported power is credited at about 25¢ per kWh.
How much does electricity cost with Rhode Island Energy?
Residential customers paid an average of 29.7¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 29.5¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 552 kWh a month, a bill of about $163.
Is solar worth it with Rhode Island Energy?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 5.6 kW system costing about $9,380 pays back in about 4.9 years, with $63,904 net over 25 years.
How many Rhode Island Energy customers have solar?
About 19,892 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 4.3% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: The Narragansett Electric Co (EIA ID 13214). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.