About Us

Vision

Our society's current energy sources and uses create unacceptable amounts of pollution and habitat damage, and are damaging to, or are an unacceptable threat to, human health and safety. These same energy sources and uses create energy costs that are volatile and often increase faster than inflation. This strains household budgets, causes economic downturns, drives away employment opportunities and generally are a significant source of economic hardship and distress, particularly for low- and fixed-income people. Deregulation and changes in technology are likely to exacerbate these problems. Already our "local utility" is owned by a foreign conglomerate, and experience has shown that what benefits there are in deregulation often go to large corporations only. Competitive pressure to provide low cost energy means that environmental considerations will be given less and less consideration.

People's Power & Light envisions a society that is instead increasingly reliant on energy efficiency and conservation, and the increased use of renewable energy sources in order to continuously reduce the environmental impacts of our energy consumption. Through conservation and efficiency we envision reducing the total energy costs for households, thereby improving our standard of living, particularly for low- and fixed-income households. We envision increased community control over the way we obtain and use energy, thereby better aligning our economy with our values, and in the process building and empowering our community.

People's Power & Light will take concrete, practical steps in realizing this vision. Our tools will be education, and offering energy products and services on fair and equitable terms. As opposed to simply profiting from increased energy consumption, we will work to reduce the economic and environmental impacts of energy consumption. People's Power & Light will be a self-sustaining, member-controlled organization that will have the strength and independence necessary to work in the best interest of our families and the environment. As members of People's Power & Light, our families will become shapers of the energy industry and not simply passive consumers. Our actions will improve economic fairness, protecting our environment, and build community. By bringing people together around the important issue of energy, we will have positive impacts in key areas that determine our quality of life:

Economic impact: People's Power & Light will help Rhode Islanders reduce their energy expenditures, so that our families can improve their standard of living. Less of our dollars will go to out-of-state energy companies, and more will stay here in Rhode Island to benefit us all.

Social impact: People's Power & Light will bring together people from many different backgrounds to achieve a common purpose, building community and civic-mindedness, and demonstrating the strength of communal action. People's Power & Light will also be a self-supporting base for consumer protection and education regarding energy issues in Rhode Island.

Environmental impact: People's Power & Light will reduce the amount of habitat damage, pollution and greenhouse gases created by our energy consumption. The less energy we use, and the cleaner our sources, the more we can reduce the enormous environmental toll energy use has on our health and planet.

Mission Statement

The purpose of this group is to organize cooperative action by Rhode Island energy consumers to promote the use of energy conservation and renewable energy to bring about the vision of reducing the environmental impact of our energy use, improving our energy security, creating a more equitable energy economy, and empowering small energy consumers. People's Power & Light will promote the transition to a sustainable energy system that does not rely on environmentally degrading power sources such as nuclear and fossil fuels.

In order to promote energy conservation and renewable energy, this group shall:

1) organize consumers to obtain services and products on favorable terms by increasing their buying power;

2) educate consumers and the public to promote conservation and the use of renewable energy;

3) educate policy makers and advocate for changes in the energy industry to promote energy conservation and the use of renewable energy

4) bring more control of our energy sector to our community and families

In keeping with the vision of enhancing our civic community, People's Power & Light will work with existing programs and organizations whenever it is prudent and effective to do so. In keeping with the vision of a more equitable energy economy, People's Power and Light will develop rates and prices that ensure equitable access for low- and fixed-income customers.