The public testifies during the PUC hearing on proposed energy rate hikes. Photo by Andrew Augustus WPRO News

WPRO News

Around one hundred people packed into the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) hearing room to offer public testimony on National Grid’s proposed winter rate hikes.

National Grid proposed a rate increase of 23.6% at the end of November to offset the cost of delivering popular natural gas energy through the limited pipelines in New England.

Warwick resident Jack Colby said rate hikes like these hurt lower income families.

“People at the bottom are struggling very, very hard, they’re losing money every year and they are having difficulty paying for utilities,” said Colby.

National Grid representative David Graves said the cost of energy is what is driving the rate increase, saying his company does not make nickel off of energy prices.

“We go out on bids periodically throughout the year in order to mitigate these kinds of spikes, and we put out for bids and the bids come back and we take the lowest bid possible and those are the prices we have to apply,” said Graves.

The commission did not vote on the issue, instead choosing to hear public testimony. A vote on the National Grid proposal is expected on December 23.