National Grid Residents are paying higher prices as of January and business are paying less Providence, Rhode Island

Residents are paying higher prices as of January 2010. The Grid is using the people's higher costs to discount its rates to businesses. Residents pay a fixed rate of $.095 kwh (was .092 & business were the same) while all businesses pay a variable $.075 kwh.

This is done in a effort to eliminate new, deregulated competition. The PUC seems to think we the people are great bargaining chips for some reason or other as they whole-heartedly are behind the Grid's play for dominance. If wind power becomes a reality in our state, The National Grid has agreed to purchase this much higher priced energy with the bill going directly to residents, again leaving businesses free from their responsibility to be good citizens. If corporations are now considered people then why are they given special treatment apart from the people? State law does not allow making profit from usage.

The argument will be made that it will be more expensive to deliver the energy to residents than to businesses. With that said, why have we been, up to this point, where we have all been charged the same price? I believe the direct reason for this discount to businesses only is to eliminate competition, pure and simple. Once the competition has been eliminated and deregulation is no longer a threat to the National Grid Corporation, the rates will go back to the exorbitantly high prices of to the Grid will revert.