Can households afford energy in Rhode Island?
28th of 51. All Rhode Island households: 3.0% ($3,010 of $99,599). Same income group, U.S.: 8.3%. Under 30% of median: 16.4% on $10,245. Renters 3.0%, owners 3.0%.
Rhode Island burden by income bracket
At or above 6% in Rhode Island: under 30%, 30% to 60%. Together 29% of homes (124,012 of 432,219).
Rhode Island burden, % of income
- 16.4Under 30%
- 6.930% to 60%
- 5.260% to 80%
- 4.480% to 100%
- 2.3Over 100%
Getting the average under-30% household in Rhode Island down to 6% takes $1,068 off its $1,683 energy cost, or $17,805 more income.
Rhode Island income, cost and burden
| Bracket | Rhode Island homes | Share | Rhode Island income | Electric | All energy | Rhode Island burden | U.S. burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30% | 55,514 | 13% | $10,245 | $876 | $1,683 | 16.4% | 17.0% |
| 30% to 60% | 68,498 | 16% | $31,339 | $1,053 | $2,154 | 6.9% | 6.3% |
| 60% to 80% | 43,664 | 10% | $53,084 | $1,338 | $2,767 | 5.2% | 4.3% |
| 80% to 100% | 40,804 | 9% | $67,773 | $1,413 | $2,966 | 4.4% | 3.4% |
| Over 100% | 223,739 | 52% | $157,549 | $1,689 | $3,657 | 2.3% | 1.6% |
| All | 432,219 | 100% | $99,599 | $1,422 | $3,010 | 3.0% | 2.2% |
Renters, owners and fuel in Rhode Island
Renters pay $1,501 on $49,914 (3.0%); owners $3,908 on $129,171 (3.0%); U.S. 2.4% and 2.2%. Most common fuel: utility gas, 54% of homes. Heaviest burden: fuel oil, 3.9%.
| Rhode Island heating fuel | Homes | Share | Rhode Island income | All energy | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 48,704 | 11.3% | $63,542 | $1,332 | 2.1% |
| Utility gas | 234,920 | 54.4% | $98,051 | $2,497 | 2.5% |
| Bottled gas (propane) | 18,511 | 4.3% | $104,035 | $3,616 | 3.5% |
| Fuel oil | 119,496 | 27.6% | $117,685 | $4,607 | 3.9% |
| Wood, coal, solar and other | 10,587 | 2.4% | $87,917 | $3,028 | 3.4% |
Your burden against Rhode Island
Help and shutoff rules in Rhode Island
FY2024 LIHEAP heating help: 28,234 homes, 23 per 100 under 60% of median.
FY2026 funding snapshot $26,792,128, $216 per such home.
Eligibility listed: 60% State Median Income.
Benefits listed: Heating: $50 minimum, $861 maximum Winter Crisis: $1,500 maximum.
- Rhode Island LIHEAP office, phone 855-697-4347
- Clearinghouse snapshot, Rhode Island
- Rhode Island help with your bill
Cold-weather clause: Moratorium period Nov 1 to May 1 (amended to May 1 effective 6/23/2025). During it, no gas/electric utility may terminate residence where service is primary heat source unless delinquent balance exceeds $500 (or $200 if not primary heat); Protected Status Customers cannot be terminated at all in that period.
Read: 810-RICR-10-00-1 (Rules and Regulations Governing the Termination of Residential Electric, Gas and Water Service), esp. 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.9, 1.17(F), checked 2026-10-02; some utilities only.
Not legal advice. Ask your Rhode Island utility.
Highest-burden Rhode Island counties
5 counties with 1,000+ homes; top: Providence County at 3.1%, lowest of the 5: Bristol County at 2.6%.
| Rhode Island county | Homes | Income | All energy | Burden | Under 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence County | 253,635 | $88,273 | $2,774 | 3.1% | 8.4% |
| Kent County | 72,199 | $103,071 | $3,111 | 3.0% | 8.6% |
| Newport County | 35,786 | $122,038 | $3,528 | 2.9% | 11.1% |
| Washington County | 51,426 | $119,965 | $3,459 | 2.9% | 11.1% |
| Bristol County | 19,173 | $139,833 | $3,576 | 2.6% | 10.9% |
Next to Rhode Island in the ranking
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Sources
DOE LEAD 2022; LIHEAP Clearinghouse; CSV.
Questions
How much of income do Rhode Island households spend on energy?
3.0% for all households ($3,010 of $99,599) and 8.9% under 60% of median income. U.S.: 2.2%, 8.3%.
Who is hit hardest in Rhode Island?
Households under 30% of median income: 16.4%, 55,514 homes spending $1,683 on $10,245.
How many Rhode Island homes get LIHEAP heating help?
28,234 in FY2024, 23 per 100 homes under 60% of median; not a take-up rate.
Is electricity the whole Rhode Island energy burden?
No: electricity is 1.4% of 3.0%; gas and other fuel are the rest.