The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources

What The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources does

The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER) is the executive-branch state agency of Rhode Island responsible for developing and administering statewide energy policy and incentive programs. It operates from One Capitol Hill in Providence under a Commissioner (currently Chris Kearns as Acting Commissioner) with a staff of 11-50, executing a portfolio that spans energy efficiency (audits, rebates, appliance standards), renewable energy (the Renewable Energy Growth Program, Renewable Energy Fund, Affordable Solar Access Pathways), heat pump electrification (Clean Heat Rhode Island, launched September 2023 with Abode Energy Management as implementation partner), agricultural energy grants (up to $20,000 per project, funded by Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative proceeds), and electric vehicle programs (DriveEV rebates, Electrify RI, NEVI program coordination, and a recently announced $24 million, 102-station charging buildout with RIDOT).

OER's technology stack is administrative and partner-mediated rather than proprietary. The agency operates the energy.ri.gov portal, a customer-facing Energy Incentive Calculator integrated with Rewiring America's tool, program dashboards under the Lead by Example initiative, and supporting resources such as Constant Contact newsletters. Program delivery is executed through partnerships with Rhode Island Energy (utility delivery channel), National Grid (utility partner on the DOE-funded Axiom Cloud AI refrigeration pilot), Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank (C-PACE financing), and implementation contractors including RISE Engineering (325 New England employees, 157 in RI), Gradient, Abode Energy Management, Newport Renewables, Kearsarge Energy, and GDS Associates.

OER's revenue model is non-commercial: the agency is funded through Rhode Island state budget appropriations, RGGI auction proceeds, and federal grants (DOE, USDA). It does not sell products or services; instead it allocates grant and incentive dollars across residential, commercial, agricultural, public-sector, and income-eligible customer segments, achieving quantified outcomes such as Rhode Island's #3 national ranking in ACEEE energy efficiency, 1,000+ MW of clean energy contracted, and a 72% expansion in clean energy jobs since 2014 under the framework of the state's Act on Climate net-zero-by-2050 mandate.

Name

The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources

Legal name

State of Rhode Island, Office of Energy Resources

Website

https://energy.ri.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

10,001+ employees

Short description

The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources is a state government agency that develops and administers energy policies and incentive programs covering energy efficiency, renewable energy, EV infrastructure, heat pump electrification, and agricultural grants for Rhode Island residents, businesses, farms, municipalities, and income-eligible customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. State Budget Appropriations: OER is funded through Rhode Island state government budget appropriations as the primary funding source for operations and program administration.
2. Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Proceeds: Funding from RGGI auction proceeds supports clean energy programs including the Agricultural Energy Grant Program, Lead by Example initiatives, and energy efficiency projects.
3. Federal Funding: OER receives and administers federal funding including DOE grants for programs like the AI-powered refrigeration project and USDA funding for agricultural energy audits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER) is the state government's primary energy policy and program agency. It develops and administers state-level energy programs, grants, rebates, and incentives covering energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy storage, heat pumps, agricultural energy, electric vehicles, and climate justice for Rhode Island residents, businesses, farms, and public entities. OER leverages state budget appropriations, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) auction proceeds, and federal funding (DOE, USDA) to deliver these programs in partnership with utilities, municipalities, and implementation vendors.

Product overview

The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources operates as a comprehensive state government energy agency offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and initiatives. The core offerings include Energy Efficiency Programs (for residents, businesses, farms, public entities, and income-eligible customers), Renewable Energy Programs (spanning wind, solar, hydro, and biomass via the Renewable Energy Growth Program and Renewable Energy Fund), the Agricultural Energy Grant Program (providing up to $20,000 per farm project), Energy Storage Rebate Programs, and Clean Heat Rhode Island (launched 2023 for heat pump incentives). The Lead by Example Initiative drives adoption across public sector facilities, while Electric Vehicle Programs support infrastructure and DriveEV rebates. Additional offerings include C-PACE financing, Energy Resilience Programs with microgrid support, Climate Justice initiatives, and the Distributed Generation Board overseeing distributed energy tariffs. An Energy Incentive Calculator tool helps residents identify eligible programs. The organization coordinates with utilities (Rhode Island Energy, National Grid), federal agencies (DOE, USDA), and Commerce RI to deliver these programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lead by Example: State initiative promoting adoption of clean energy measures across public sector facilities and state agencies
• Agricultural Energy Grant Program
• Clean Heat Rhode Island
• DriveEV
• Electrify RI

Products and services

• Agricultural Energy Grant Program
• Clean Heat Rhode Island
• Lead by Example Initiative
• DriveEV Rebate Program Electric vehicle rebate program for Rhode Island residents, including used EV incentives and income-qualified rebates, accessible via the drive.ri.gov website. Target audience: Rhode Island residents purchasing new or used electric vehicles.
• Electrify RI (EV Charging Station Incentives) Program providing incentives for EV charging station deployment across Rhode Island, including coordination of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program. Target audience: municipalities, businesses, and property owners deploying EV chargers.
• Renewable Energy Growth Program Program supporting wind, solar, hydro, and biomass renewable energy development in Rhode Island, overseen by the 10-member Distributed Generation Board which sets annual program plans, ceiling prices, and megawatt allocations. Target audience: renewable energy developers and distributed generation project owners.
• Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Financing Financing program administered with the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank allowing commercial property owners to repay costs of qualifying energy efficiency or renewable energy projects through property tax payments. Target audience: Rhode Island commercial property owners.
• Energy Storage Rebate Program Rebate program for battery energy storage systems (BESS) to help Rhode Islanders store renewable energy and reduce grid dependence, including the ConnectedSolutions program. Target audience: Rhode Island residents and businesses installing battery storage.
• Energy Resilience Programs (Microgrids) Programs focused on grid resilience and critical infrastructure protection, including the Resilient Microgrids for Critical Services program supporting microgrid deployment at critical facilities, and the BESS model ordinance. Target audience: municipalities, critical facilities, and infrastructure operators.
• Home Energy Rebate Programs (IRA Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates) Comprehensive home energy rebate programs for Rhode Island residents, including the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program with pilot incentives for moderate-income households. Target audience: Rhode Island homeowners and renters.
• Electric Leaf Blower Rebate Program Rebate program supporting the replacement of gas-powered leaf blowers with electric alternatives to reduce emissions from landscaping equipment. Target audience: Rhode Island residents and landscaping professionals.
• Free Agricultural Energy Audits Free on-farm energy audits for Rhode Island farms funded by USDA and conducted by technical service provider GDS Associates, supporting Agricultural Energy Grant Program applications. Target audience: Rhode Island farm owners.
• Energy Efficiency Programs (Residential, Business, Farm, Public, Income-Eligible) Comprehensive energy efficiency programs for homeowners, renters, businesses, farmers, public entities, and income-eligible customers offering audits, rebates, and incentives to reduce energy consumption. Delivered in partnership with Rhode Island Energy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rhode Island ranked #3 in nation for energy efficiency for multiple consecutive years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GradientcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 20 April 2026San Francisco-based climate tech startup that installed 277 heat pumps at Carroll Tower, a 194-apartment public housing development in Providence. Project completed in just 12 days as part of a $1.25 million public-private initiative.
• Abode Energy ManagementcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 20 April 2026Implementation partner for the Carroll Tower heat pump project. Also administers the Clean Heat Rhode Island rebate program for the state.
• Envr AirminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 20 April 2026Partner in the Carroll Tower heat pump installation project for public housing development in Providence.
• Providence Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026Partner organization for the Carroll Tower heat pump retrofit project, providing the public housing property for one of the largest completed heat pump installations in the United States.
• Axiom CloudcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2021U.S. Department of Energy grant project involving Axiom Cloud to develop AI-powered solutions for managing grocery store refrigeration loads. The project tests AI solutions at grocery stores in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, potentially shifting 40 to 100 MW of load to reduce energy costs and strain on the electrical grid.
• National GridcoreTechnology or Integration · 20 September 2021Partner in DOE-funded AI-based refrigeration energy management project. National Grid serves as the utility partner for testing smart refrigeration load management solutions at grocery stores in Rhode Island.
• GDS AssociatescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTechnical service provider for USDA-funded free agricultural energy audits program. Conducts energy audits for Rhode Island farms to support Agricultural Energy Grant applications.
• Rhode Island EnergycoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary utility partner administering energy efficiency programs including rebates for heat pumps, insulation, and other efficiency improvements. Also provides energy efficiency incentives for agricultural operations.
• Agilitas EnergycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStorage company partner for Pascoag Utility District's 3MW battery storage project. Designed, installed, and operates the facility that helped avoid over $6 million in transmission upgrade costs.
• Commerce RIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState commerce agency partner for Renewable Energy Fund and clean energy economic development initiatives. Jointly administers agricultural energy grants and renewable energy programs.
• Rhode Island Department of TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative partner for EV charging infrastructure deployment, including $24 million statewide expansion of 102+ charging stations across 18 municipalities.
• RISE EngineeringcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLead vendor for Rhode Island Energy's energy efficiency programs, conducting home and business energy audits. Employs 325 people across New England with 157 in Rhode Island. Completed over $1 billion in energy savings.
• Energy SourceminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEnergy efficiency services company based in Rhode Island helping commercial, industrial, healthcare and government clients save on energy bills. Has saved clients more than 280 million kWh.
• Newport RenewablescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRhode Island-based solar installation company that installed the 207kW rooftop solar array at RI Army National Guard Camp Fogarty and 900 new solar panels on Capitol Hill rooftops.
• ADI EnergyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRhode Island-based energy efficiency firm founded in 2002 by URI graduate John Rizzo. Ranked in Inc 5000's list of Fastest Growing Private Companies for five years. Worked on Rhode Island College efficiency improvements.
• Kearsarge EnergyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBoston-based renewable energy developer constructing 9.2 MW of solar arrays on closed landfills (Rose Hill and Plains Road) in South Kingstown to supply energy to towns and University of Rhode Island.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Oregon Department of Energy: Oregon's standalone state energy office administering energy incentives, tax credits, and planning. Peer to OER as a similarly structured state energy authority with comparable scope, especially in agricultural, transportation, and efficiency program design.
• Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER): Massachusetts' state energy policy and program office with analogous mandate over renewable energy, efficiency, and heat pump programs (Mass Save). Closest peer because OER and DOER operate overlapping New England programs (heat pump accelerators, RGGI design, EV build-outs) and compete for the same federal funding pools.
• Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP): Connecticut's combined energy and environmental regulator overseeing energy efficiency, renewables, RGGI allocation, and EV programs. Peer because DEEP and OER share RGGI governance structures, similar small-state program scope, and overlapping heat pump/EV initiatives.
• Colorado Energy Office: Colorado's state energy office administering renewable energy, EV, and building electrification programs with statutory authority similar to OER. Peer because both offices integrate state and federal funding streams for heat pump/electrification deployment.
• Vermont Department of Public Service: Vermont's state energy utility regulator with comparable small-state program portfolio: efficiency (Efficiency Vermont), renewable incentives, and thermal/heating transformation. Functions as a regional analog to OER's thermal working group and Clean Heat RI deployment model.
• Maryland Energy Administration: Maryland's standalone state energy office running grant and incentive programs for renewables, EVs, and efficiency under a similar small-agency model. Peer because both MEA and OER combine RGGI proceeds with state appropriations to drive distributed energy and building decarbonization.

Broad incumbents

• NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority): Larger state-level energy authority administering multi-billion-dollar clean energy programs across renewables, efficiency, heat pumps, EVs, and innovation. Functions as a scaled-up analog of OER, with broader geographic and budgetary scope; useful benchmark for OER's potential program growth trajectory.
• California Energy Commission: California's primary state energy policy and planning agency with leading role in net-zero pathway design, building standards, and transportation electrification. Useful benchmark for how OER's mandate may evolve as Rhode Island's net-zero-by-2050 law matures and gains programmatic specificity.

Regional players

• New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (Office of Clean Energy): New Jersey's state utility regulator with a Clean Energy division managing significant solar, storage, and efficiency programs. Functions as a comparable state-level program administration structure but in a different RGGI region.
• Efficiency Maine Trust: Quasi-governmental trust that administers Maine's statewide energy efficiency and heat pump programs funded through a surcharge on electricity rates. Peer to OER for the residential and C&I efficiency program design, though structured as a trust rather than a state agency.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/energyri
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@energyri
• Facebookfacebook.com/energyri
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/state-of-rhode-island

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources