Recently, a neighbor informed me via text that his generator had inadvertently taken his home off the grid. When the electric company inspected his property, they recorded a hazardous voltage of 270 volts, 30 to 50 volts above normal. Alarmed by this news, I checked the voltage in my own house and discovered the same dangerously high reading.
This over-voltage has led to significant damage. In my case, my Bosch oven’s bottom burner failed, likely due to a damaged relay or coil on the gas valve caused by the excessive voltage while I was using the appliance. Other neighbors have reported similar issues, including ruined dishwashers, blown breakers, and malfunctioning control panels for their boilers and other essential systems. How many issues will emerge in the coming weeks?

It is deeply troubling that RI Energy, our power supplier, did not treat this incident with the urgency it demanded. Fortunately, our State Representative Michelle McGraw took immediate action by reaching out to her contacts and notifying her constituents. The response from RI Energy must be more proactive and transparent.

I urge all affected residents to submit their claims to RI Energy, and I call on the company to produce a comprehensive report detailing what happened, how they plan to prevent such incidents in the future, and the total number of customers impacted. Many of us in Little Compton recall a time when we would lose power in more than 10 items per year due to poorly maintained power distribution systems. I strongly advocate for a change in state laws requiring power suppliers to notify homeowners immediately when such incidents occur. Timely communication and prompt action can prevent further damage and ensure the safety of our community.
We are lucky our homes didn’t burn down.

Andrew L. Rhyne, Ph.D.

Little Compton