Central Falls City Council member Laurilim Rosado, who joined the demonstration, said the issue is personal. "Our families are in need and deserve respect," Rosado said. "We're asking for questions, answering questions ... and holding accountable Rhode Island Energy."

Protesters claim that for many families, delivery fees are higher than the actual cost of electricity used. "There's families paying for the regular energy [as low as] $50, $60, but the delivery fee is more than $70 and up," Rosado said.

Rosado said she has struggled with the fees herself. "Deciding, I feed my family or I pay the electric bill," she said. She also said her mother, who uses an oxygen machine, had her power shut off after she fell two months behind on her payments. "The delivery charges are too high to have her in the condition that she needs," Rosado said.

Rhode Island Energy said its delivery charges "support the construction, maintenance and safe operation of critical infrastructure across Rhode Island," which includes power lines, storm cleanup, and equipment. The company also said it will be giving some customers bill credits this winter.

The protest comes as Rhode Islanders face rising energy costs and heightened scrutiny of utility practices. The demonstration outside the PUC offices in Warwick underscores growing frustration among residents who say the burden of delivery fees falls hardest on working families and those with medical needs.

Organizers and supporters are calling for greater transparency from Rhode Island Energy and for regulators to examine whether the delivery charges are justified. The PUC, which oversees utility rates in the state, has not publicly commented on the protest.

The company's planned bill credits this winter may provide some relief, but protesters argue that more systemic changes are needed to address the root causes of high delivery costs. For families like Rosado's, the stakes are immediate and deeply personal.