The Enhanced Electric Discount Rate program will set discounts according to household income, with lower earners receiving larger reductions. The company said eligible customers will fall into one of five tiers, receiving discounts of 10%, 38%, 56%, 66%, or 75% off their electric bills.

Households enrolled in assistance programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, or Supplemental Security Income may qualify for the discounts, according to the utility.

The program is scheduled to begin next year, though Rhode Island Energy has not yet released a specific start date or detailed eligibility thresholds for each tier.

The announcement comes after protesters gathered at the Public Utilities Commission over the weekend to demand greater transparency from Rhode Island Energy. The utility has faced mounting pressure over electric rates, and the new discount program is aimed at easing the burden on customers who struggle to afford their bills.

Advocates for low-income residents have long argued that flat rate structures place a disproportionate burden on households that spend a larger share of their income on electricity. The tiered approach announced Monday would mark a shift toward income-based pricing, though questions remain about how the utility will verify eligibility and whether the program will reach all qualifying households.

Rhode Island Energy said it is still working out details of the program and has not yet said how customers can apply or when enrollment will open. The utility did not immediately respond to questions about the program's cost or how it will be funded.

For now, the program represents one of the most generous income-based discount structures offered by a major utility in the region, with the top tier cutting bills by three-quarters for the neediest households. Whether it delivers meaningful relief will depend on how many customers sign up and how smoothly the rollout proceeds when it launches next year.