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The Narragansett Bay Commission is proud to announce its thirtieth annual Environmental Merit Awards.

Each year, the Narragansett Bay Commission honors companies that have gone beyond compliance using pollution prevention techniques and approaches, have implemented stormwater mitigation technologies, and those companies that have achieved perfect compliance records. The future economic and environmental well- being of Rhode Island is dependent upon industry working together with environmental agencies like the Narragansett Bay Commission to reduce or eliminate waste. The Narragansett Bay Commission’s Environmental Merit Awards program provides an opportunity for companies to receive public recognition for operational advances behind the scenes that have helped protect the environment.

The Narragansett Bay Commission’s Environmental Merit Award winners set the standards for all regulated businesses. Other businesses are encouraged to achieve this level of success with the help of the Narragansett Bay Commission’s Pollution Prevention Program. The non-regulatory Pollution Prevention Program helps the industrial community find environmentally and economically sound ways of eliminating or reducing the generation of industrial wastes and pollutants.

We welcome your nomination for this year’s Environmental Merit Awards. Nominations are due March 5, 2025. Download the nomination form here.

The Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) is offering grants ranging from $250 up to $1,000 for local Earth Day River and Lake Cleanups, restoration or beautification projects for areas located within the NBC service area or along NBC receiving waters. The goal of the NBC 2025 Earth Day River Cleanup Grant Program is to clean up our important environmental resources by providing funding assistance to local organizations restoring and improving the green spaces in their communities. Deadline for applications is February 14, 2025.

The grants may be used for Earth Day volunteer cleanup projects of green spaces and river, lake and pond cleanup projects located within the NBC service district or along NBC receiving waters. Projects that include an educational component to educate volunteers about some aspect of the environment, environmental restoration, protection are preferred. All sections of the grant application, including the project description form must be completed. Applications must be accompanied with an invoice on organizational letterhead with the grant award total request listed. The invoice must have the letterhead of your organization. An invoice template is attached for your use. Please tailor the template to your organization’s needs. Any incomplete grant application forms received will not be considered. Only one application per project will be considered, and projects must be completed no later than September 8, 2025. The range of funding for any single project shall be between $250 and $1,000, depending upon the number of applicants and funding availability.

Download the grant application here.

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN RE: NARRAGANSETT BAY COMMISSION DOCKET NO: 22-47-WW

APPLICATION TO CHANGE RATE SCHEDULES

NOTICE OF FILING AND CHANGE IN RATE SCHEDULES On November 4, 2022, pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws § 39-3-11 and Part 5 of the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, the Narragansett Bay Commission (“NBC”) hereby gives notice that it has filed an application to increase its rates with the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (“Commission”). In its filing, NBC seeks to implement a multi-year rate plan that would increase rates in five phases. In the first phase of the increase, proposed to take effect on December 5, 2022, NBC’s proposed rates are designed to collect additional operating revenue in the amount of $11,257,959 to support a total revenue requirement of $115,574,327. The impact of the proposal will be an across-the-board increase of 11.11% on all residential and non-residential rates. For an average residential customer, using 150 gallons of water per day, the request will result in an increase of $57.69 in their annual bill from $519.17 to $576.86. The impact of the rate increase on all other customers will vary depending upon the customer’s classification and consumption. In the second phase of the increase, proposed to take effect on July 1 2024, NBC’s proposed rates are designed to collect additional operating revenue in the amount of $8,735,691 to support a total revenue requirement of $124,310,018. The impact of the proposal will be an across-the-board increase of 7.76% on all residential and non-residential rates. For an average residential customer, using 150 gallons of water per day, the request will result in an increase of $44.77 in their annual bill from $576.86 to $621.63. The impact of the rate increase on all other customers will vary depending upon the customer’s classification and consumption. In the third phase of the increase, proposed to take effect on July 1 2025, NBC’s proposed rates are designed to collect additional operating revenue in the amount of $3,103,269 to support a total revenue requirement of $127,413,287. The impact of the proposal will be an across-the-board increase of 2.56% on all residential and non-residential rates. For an average residential customer, using 150 gallons of water per day, the request will result in an increase of $15.90 in their annual bill from $621.63 to $637.53. The impact of the rate increase on all other customers will vary depending upon the customer’s classification and consumption. In the fourth phase of the increase, proposed to take effect on July 1 2026, NBC’s proposed rates are designed to collect additional operating revenue in the amount of $2,112,378 to support a total revenue requirement of $129,525,665. The impact of the proposal will be an across-the-board increase of 1.70% on all residential and non-residential rates. For an average residential customer, using 150 gallons of water per day, the request will result in an increase of $10.83 in their annual bill from $637.53 to $648.36. The impact of the rate increase on all other customers will vary depending upon the customer’s classification and consumption. In the fifth phase of the increase, proposed to take effect on July 1 2027, NBC’s proposed rates are designed to collect additional operating revenue in the amount of $5,776,999 to support a total revenue requirement of $135,302,663. The impact of the proposal will be an across-the-board increase of 4.57% on all residential and non-residential rates. For an average residential customer, using 150 gallons of water per day, the request will result in an increase of $29.60 in their annual bill from $648.36 to $677.96. The impact of the rate increase on all other customers will vary depending upon the customer’s classification and consumption. Please note that while NBC is requesting this revenue increase, the Commission, after full investigation and hearings, may order a different revenue increase and rates.

While the new rates in the first phase of the increase are proposed to become effective December 5, 2022, the Commission can suspend the rates for up to eight months from the proposed effective date. No rate change will take effect until the Commission has conducted a full investigation and hearing on the proposal. The Commission will publish a notice of the hearing dates when they are scheduled. Ratepayers may comment on the proposed rate increases at that time.

A copy of the application is on file for examination at the NBC’s office One Service Road, Providence, Rhode Island and at the offices of the Public Utilities Commission, 89 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, Rhode Island, and can be accessed at https://ripuc.ri.gov/Docket-22-47-WW. A copy of the filing was also provided to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Department, Consumer Division.

Narragansett Bay Commission

One Service Road

Providence, Rhode Island 02905

NBC has announced the 2023 round of grants for Earth Day Community Clean-Ups.

In 2003, NBC Chairman Vincent Mesolella established the Chairman’s River Restoration Initiative for the Woonasquatucket River. In 2013, the Chairman’s River Restoration Initiative expanded to include support to other community organizations who would like to pursue their own Earth Day River and Lake Cleanups, restoration or beautification projects. Annually, the NBC offers grants ranging from $250 up to $1000 to community groups in the NBC service area. From 2013-2022, grantees galvanized over 10,000 volunteers to make a difference for clean water in their communities.

The goal of the NBC 2023 Earth Day River Cleanup Grant Program is to continue on the previous years’ successes and emphasize the importance of Earth Day 2023, the value of the environment, and provide assistance to organizations improving the quality of life in their communities. We encourage all applicants to abide by current guidelines regarding PPE and social distancing. The grant application is available here. The deadline is February 15, 2023.

The Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) is offering grants ranging from $250 up to $1,000 for local Earth Day River and Lake Cleanups, restoration or beautification projects for areas located within the NBC service area or along NBC receiving waters. The goal of the NBC 2020 Earth Day River Cleanup Grant Program is to clean up our important environmental resources by providing funding assistance to local organizations restoring and improving the green spaces in their communities.

The grants may be used for Earth Day volunteer cleanup projects of green spaces and river, lake and pond cleanup projects located within the NBC service district or along NBC receiving waters. Projects that include an educational component to educate volunteers about some aspect of the environment, environmental restoration, protection are preferred. All sections of the grant application, including the project description form must be completed. Applications must be accompanied with an invoice on organizational letterhead with the grant award total request listed. The invoice must have the letterhead of your organization. Any incomplete grant application forms received will not be considered. Only one application per project will be considered, and projects must be completed no later than August 31, 2020. The range of funding for any single project shall be between $250 and $1,000, depending upon the number of applicants and funding availability.

Application forms are available here and are due by February 21, 2020.

The Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) has limited access to its offices to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Beginning Monday, March 16, 2020, NBC will restrict customer and visitor access to all NBC facilities, including the corporate office at One Service Road, Providence, until further notice.

While the corporate office is closed, customers are encouraged to call Customer Service at (401) 461-8828 or email cs@narrabay.com.  Customers may also visit the agency’s website at www.narrabay.com for on-line bill payment and account management. All transactions except the acceptance of cash payments and site visits can be completed through NBC’s automated phone service or on-line.

During this time, NBC will suspend water service terminations and collection calls arising from non-payment.

NBC is committed to its environmental and public health mission to deliver safe and reliable wastewater collections and treatment service, while protecting the health of its employees and customers.

More information is available from the Centers for Disease Control and the Rhode Island Department of Health.

For additional information about coronavirus and water safety, visit www.epa.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-drinking-water-and-wastewater

The Narragansett Bay Commission encourages everyone to refrain from flushing disposable wipes. The wipes do not dissolve in water and can lead to unpleasant toilet back-ups as well as larger sewer system issues.

Only the 3 Ps should go in the toilet: pee, poo, and (toilet) paper.

Please see these Spanish and English language flyers explaining why #WipesClogPipes.

At the April 2021 meeting of the Narragansett Bay Commission, the Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to reaffirm its current slate of officers: Chairman Vincent Mesolella, Vice Chairman Angelo Rotella, and Treasurer Robert Andrade. 2021 marks Mesolella’s thirtieth year at the helm of the internationally-recognized clean water agency.

“The accomplishments of the Narragansett Bay Commission and this Board is an extreme source of pride for me, as I know it is for all of us,” Mesolella said upon the vote. “I thank you, for the thirtieth time, for the confidence you have bestowed upon me. Together, this Board and this Commission has made Rhode Island a better place and we will continue on that mission.”

Under Mesolella’s leadership, the NBC has been named twice a Utility of the Future and received numerous national and regional awards for operational, managerial, and fiscal excellence as well as for community engagement and environmental education. The NBC has established itself as a leader in renewable energy, with approximately 80% of its annual energy needs met by NBC-owned renewable sources, such as wind, solar, and biogas. In the 1990s, as Mesolella assumed the Chairmanship, the NBC embarked on a comprehensive three-phase plan to deal with Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), which has resulted in significant improvements in water quality in Narragansett Bay and great enhancements in both bathing beaches and the shellfishing industry. The final phase of the CSO project starts construction in 2021.