In short: Newport is a Rhode Island Energy city: about 28.3¢ per kWh on average in 2024 and about 104 outage minutes (EIA). Newport County’s natural hazard risk is rated very low, with coastal flooding the only notable one. What shapes energy projects here is the historic district, where street-visible roof solar is generally not approved.
This page covers what is local to Newport: the utility’s numbers and programs, flood risk, historic district rules for solar and generators, permits and charging. Statewide rules (net metering, the REG tariff, the Renewable Energy Fund grant, the sales tax exemption and licensing) are in our Rhode Island energy guide.
Newport at a glance
- Utility: Rhode Island Energy, the only electric utility EIA lists in Newport County. About 28.3¢ per kWh on average in 2024 for homes on its own supply (EIA-861).
- Outages (2024): about 104 minutes per customer counting major storms, 61 without (EIA-861, Rhode Island Energy as a whole).
- Sun: about 3.99 kWh per square meter per day (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020). Our rough estimate: about 1,170 kWh a year per kW of panels.
- Top hazards: overall risk “very low”; coastal flooding is “relatively moderate”, and every other hazard is rated lower (FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025).
- Public charging: 42 ports at 20 locations in Newport (AFDC, October 3, 2026).
Your utility and what it means
Rhode Island Energy delivers the power. Supply comes from its Last Resort Service, with residential prices fixed for six months and reset in April and October, unless you choose a competitive supplier or the city runs an aggregation plan. In 2024, about 26% of its households bought supply elsewhere (EIA-861).
- Solar: net metering or the REG tariff, plus the state grant; see our state page.
- ConnectedSolutions for batteries: $225 per average kW delivered in summer peak events, which Rhode Island Energy intends to hold for five summers (its program guide notes regulatory approval is pending).
- ConnectedSolutions for EVs: $50 to enroll an eligible EV or charger and $20 a year. PowerUpRI offers state home charger rebates; check its page for amounts.
Backup power in Newport
Outages are rare and short on average, and FEMA rates Newport County’s overall risk very low. Coastal flooding is the exception, and on low-lying streets near the harbor it is the one that decides where equipment goes. A generator, battery or outdoor panel should sit above likely flood levels, and the city can tell you whether your lot is in a flood zone.
- Most homes: a portable power station covers phones, Wi-Fi, lights and a CPAP for a typical outage, with no exterior equipment to approve.
- Medical needs, sump pumps or inns and guest houses: a home battery or a standby generator. Size them with the battery backup calculator or the generator sizing tool, and compare in backup power.
Generators in the historic district: Newport’s historic district ordinance exempts ground-mounted generators of 100 amps or less from Historic District Commission review if they are not visible from any public way, meet zoning setbacks and are screened by fencing or shrubbery. You may still need a building permit. Safety (CPSC): run any generator outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust away from doors and windows, never in a garage, with battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms inside. See generator installation.
Solar in Newport
By our rough estimate, each kW of panels makes about 1,170 kWh a year. At the 2024 average of 28.3¢, power that offsets your own use is worth about $330 a year per kW (an estimate, not a promise). Outside the historic district, the path is the same as elsewhere in Rhode Island: check your roof with the solar potential tool, compare quotes in the solar savings calculator and read solar installation.
Inside the local historic district, solar needs a Certificate of Appropriateness, and the application must include a roof plan showing the panels. The Historic District Commission’s solar policy, in its 2022 draft text, says roof panels are typically not allowed and shall not go on a roof if they can be seen from the street; slate, standing-seam metal, wood shingle and tile roofs are off-limits. It allows panels to be considered on flat roofs set back from the edge, on newer additions out of public view, or mounted on a pole or the ground elsewhere on the property. Ask the city’s preservation planner for the current policy before you get quotes.
Batteries
A battery can sit indoors, which makes it easier than a generator in a historic house, though the Commission asks for the location of exterior mechanical and battery equipment with solar applications. ConnectedSolutions events are in summer and do not run during an outage or in the two days before a predicted severe one. See battery cost and home battery installation.
EV charging
Newport has 42 public ports (AFDC, October 2026). At about 30 kWh per 100 miles, home charging costs roughly $8.50 per 100 miles at the 2024 average price (an estimate). Use the EV charging cost calculator and see EV charger installation.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Newport: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
- Historic review first: confirm on the city’s GIS map whether your property is in the local historic district. Applications go to the Department of Planning and Economic Development, 43 Broadway; the Commission meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm, and the owner or a representative must attend. See the city’s Certificate of Appropriateness packet.
- Building and electrical permits: the Department of Zoning and Inspections, also at 43 Broadway. Since 2018, every Rhode Island city and town uses the state’s single solar permit application, covering building and electrical work (300-RICR-00-00-3).
- Who does the work: a state-licensed electrician and registered contractor; Rhode Island Energy approves interconnection. Condo owners need association approval.
Cities we cover
- Newport
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Newport energy FAQ
Can I put solar panels on my roof in Newport’s historic district?
Usually not if they can be seen from the street. The Historic District Commission’s solar policy (2022 draft text) says roof panels are typically not allowed and rules out street-visible roofs and historic roofing like slate. Hidden flat roofs, newer additions and pole or ground mounts may be considered; confirm the current policy with the city.
Do I need Historic District Commission approval for a generator?
Not always. Newport’s ordinance exempts ground-mounted generators of 100 amps or less if they are not visible from any public way, meet zoning setbacks and are screened by fencing or shrubbery. Larger or visible units need review, and you may still need a building permit either way.
Is flooding a concern for backup equipment in Newport?
It is the main one. FEMA rates Newport County’s overall risk very low, but coastal flooding is relatively moderate. Before placing a generator, battery or outdoor electrical panel, ask the city whether your lot is in a flood zone and keep equipment above expected water levels.
When does the Newport Historic District Commission meet?
On the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm. Complete applications are due by the second Tuesday for the following month’s meeting, and the owner or an authorized representative must attend; unrepresented applications are dismissed. Build that month or two into your project schedule.
Sources
Utility area, 2024 prices, outages and supply shopping: EIA-861, 2024 data. Programs and supply rules: Rhode Island Energy (ConnectedSolutions battery and EV pages, 2024–2026 battery program guide, Last Resort Service page). Historic review: City of Newport Historic District Commission Certificate of Appropriateness packet (revised October 2023) and draft solar panel policy statement (2022). Statewide solar permit: Rhode Island Secretary of State, 300-RICR-00-00-3. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Sun: NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020. Charging ports: AFDC Station Locator, October 3, 2026. Generator safety: CPSC. Checked October 3, 2026.