EV Charging Costs in Rhode Island
Residential electricity in Rhode Island averages 30.14¢/kWh — 13.6¢ above the national average. Source: U.S. EIA.
Home Rate
30.14¢/kWh
Model Y Full Charge
$18.08
vs National Avg
+$8.18
Renewable Mix
20%
Rhode Island's high electricity rate of 30.14¢/kWh means some public networks (Francis Energy at 28¢/kWh) can be competitive with or cheaper than home charging for some drivers.
Home vs Public Charging in Rhode Island
Using a Tesla Model Y (75 kWh) as benchmark. Full charge (80%).
| Network | Rate | Full Charge Cost | vs Home Here |
|---|---|---|---|
| BestHome Charging | 30.14¢/kWh | $18.08 | — |
| Francis Energy | 28¢/kWh | $16.80 | -$1.28 |
| ChargePoint | 30¢/kWh | $18.00 | -$0.08 |
| Rivian Adventure Network | 30¢/kWh | $18.00 | -$0.08 |
| IONNA | 32¢/kWh | $19.20 | +$1.12 |
| FLO | 35¢/kWh | $21.00 | +$2.92 |
| Tesla Supercharger | 36¢/kWh | $21.60 | +$3.52 |
| Mercedes-Benz HPC | 40¢/kWh | $24.00 | +$5.92 |
| bp pulse | 42¢/kWh | $25.20 | +$7.12 |
| Shell Recharge | 44¢/kWh | $26.40 | +$8.32 |
| Blink Charging | 44¢/kWh | $26.40 | +$8.32 |
| Electrify America | 48¢/kWh | $28.80 | +$10.72 |
| EVgo | 48¢/kWh | $28.80 | +$10.72 |
Charging Popular EVs at Home in Rhode Island
| EV Model | Battery | Full Charge Cost | Per 100 Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadillac LYRIQ | 102 kWh | $24.59 | $9.43 |
| Cadillac OPTIQ | 85 kWh | $20.50 | $8.08 |
| Cadillac VISTIQ | 102 kWh | $24.59 | $10.08 |
| Kia EV9 | 99.8 kWh | $24.06 | $9.89 |
| Rivian R2 | 87.9 kWh | $21.19 | $8.08 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 79 kWh | $19.05 | $6.56 |
| Tesla Model Y | 75 kWh | $18.08 | $6.33 |
| Acura ZDX | 102 kWh | $24.59 | $9.82 |
How Charging Costs Work in Rhode Island
The 30.14¢/kWh figure above is the EIA-reported residential average across all of Rhode Island's utilities. Your actual bill depends on your specific utility, rate plan, and the time of day you charge. Many utilities in Rhode Island offer time-of-use (TOU) rates that charge 35.5¢/kWh during peak hours and significantly less overnight — the window when most EV owners plug in. If your utility offers an EV-specific rate, off-peak charging can drop to 60–70% of the residential average. That takes the Model Y full-charge cost from $18.08 down closer to $11.75.
Rhode Island's grid is 20% renewable — the remaining generation comes primarily from natural gas and coal, which means residential rates track wholesale fuel markets more tightly. Home solar with a battery can insulate you from rate hikes; at current 30.14¢/kWh pricing, a 7 kW rooftop system pays back in roughly 8–11 years in Rhode Island. If you install solar, the effective cost of EV charging drops to whatever your system produces above your home baseline load — often under 5¢/kWh over the panel's lifetime. Net metering rules vary by state and utility; check your local PUC for current export rates.
Public fast-charging makes sense in Rhode Islandwhen you're traveling, can't install home charging (apartments, rentals), or need to top up mid-trip. For a road trip across Rhode Island, budget $7.98 per 100 miles at typical DC fast-charger rates (around 38¢/kWh blended) versus $6.33 per 100 miles at home. That difference is roughly $1.65 per 100 miles — meaningful over a 300-mile day.
Apartment dwellers in Rhode Island have two realistic paths. Workplace charging (often free or subsidized) cuts the per-kWh cost to near zero for commute-only charging. Destination charging — Level 2 stations at grocery stores, restaurants, and hotels — typically runs $0.20–$0.35/kWh and adds roughly 20–30 miles of range per hour. For regular use, a nearby public Level 2 charger combined with a monthly network membership (EVgo Plus, Electrify America Pass+) usually beats paying per-session at fast chargers. See our full network comparison to pick the right plan.
Related Charging Guides
Data sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) residential electricity averages; network-published rate cards; manufacturer battery specs. Rates vary by utility, rate plan, and time of day — check your specific bill for exact figures.