Projo Biz Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The number of natural-gas and electric customers having their service disconnected for not paying their bills has fallen in 2009 compared to 2008, according to regulatory filings by National Grid, the company that supplies gas and electricity to nearly every Rhode Island resident.

The utility files monthly information about shutoffs with the state Division of Public Utilities and Carriers. The October report includes information from April 15, when a legal moratorium on shutoffs ends, through Sept. 30.

As of then, 16,635 electric customers had been disconnected this year, compared to 17,509 last year, a 5-percent decline. Even so, this year and last had the highest tallies since the company began filing reports in 2004.

By Sept. 30, 8,282 gas customers had been shut off, down 9 percent from last year's total of 9,129. This year was the second lowest number of shutoffs since 2004, just slightly ahead of 2007's 8,265.

The company also reports the number of customers whose service has been discontinued since April and had not been restored as of Sept. 30.

The report shows 1,975 customers without electricity as of that date this year, down 57 percent from last year's 4,620. As with total shutoffs, this year and last are the highest since the reports began in 2005.

For gas, 3,770 customers did not have service on Sept. 30, down 16 percent from last year's 4,474. This year is the lowest number of shutoffs since the reports began in 2005.

 Tags  electricity National Grid natural gas

---