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City Offering Memorial Benches at Rogers High School

Monday, April 28, 2025

Memorial Benches to be Placed at New Rogers Entrance

NEWPORT, R.I. (MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2025) – As construction on the new Rogers High School nears completion, the City of Newport is inviting the community to sponsor commemorative benches that will be installed at the school's main entrances.
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SPRING WATER MAIN FLUSHING SET TO BEGIN

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Overnight Water Main Flushing Scheduled to Run through May 8th

NEWPORT, R.I. (WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2025) - The Newport Water Division will begin its annual Spring water main flushing program throughout Newport on Sunday, April 27. This essential maintenance is part of the Division’s continued efforts to maintain high water quality throughout the distribution system.

Flushing will occur in designated areas during the overnight hours of 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. and signs will be posted in each area before flushing begins.

Community Invited to Arbor Day Celebration

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Tree Planting Ceremony to be held at the Newport Skatepark

NEWPORT, R.I. (WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2025) – The Newport Tree and Open Space Commission will be marking Arbor Day with a special tree planting ceremony on Thursday April 24th at the newly constructed Newport Skatepark.

This event not only celebrates the vital role that trees and open spaces play in promoting public health and well-being, but also marks the official dedication of the skatepark in memory of Seamus Kirby—a cherished member of the Newport community whose influence extended beyond the skateboarding community through his creativity, kindness, and dedication to the values of camaraderie and perseverance. Read more »

City of Newport Seeks Applicants for New Charter Review and Youth Advisory Commissions

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Volunteers Also Needed for Existing Boards & Commissions

NEWPORT, R.I. (WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2025) – The City of Newport is inviting civic-minded residents to apply for positions on a number of its Boards and Commission, including three newly created groups aimed at shaping the future of local governance and engaging the next generation of leaders.

NEWPORT ADDING NEW SMALL BOAT SEASONAL RENTAL MOORING FIELD

Monday, April 7, 2025

Lottery to Determine Mooring Field for Smaller Vessels

NEWPORT, R.I. (TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2025) – Keeping a boat in Newport Harbor is about to get easier. The City of Newport is set to debut a new small boat seasonal rental mooring field this summer in the Spindle Area of Newport Harbor, aiming to provide space for boats up to 26 feet in length. The new field, which is currently being installed, will feature 20 city owned rental moorings designed to meet the rising demand for moorings in Newport Harbor. Read more »

Zoning Board Applications to Move Online

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Zoning Board Applications to Move Online

Application Portal to Open Wednesday, April 9th

NEWPORT, R.I. – The City of Newport is continuing to add to its suite of online services. Beginning next week, applications for upcoming meetings of the Zoning Board of Review will be processed exclusively online through a new application portal set to be introduced on Wednesday, April 9th.

The change follows a new requirement passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly aimed at establishing a uniform filing process across all 39 cities and towns in the state.

The shift from paper applications to an online-only format aligns with the City of Newport's ongoing efforts to streamline government services and enhance accessibility, and will utilize the same ViewPoint system as the City’s online Building Permit process.

The goal is to make the application process as efficient and user-friendly as possible with staff available to assist anyone who may need guidance or help with the transition to the new online system.

In addition to the Zoning Board of Review, online applications for the City’s Planning Board
and Historic District Commission are also expected to be introduced in the coming months. For more information or to file an application, visit www.CityofNewport.com/ZoningBoard.
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New Water Rates Going into Effect

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Newport Water Division customers will see new rates with their April bills.

Under the new rates, a residential customer who uses 5,000 gallons of water per month will see an increase of $127.44 per year, or roughly $10.62 per month. The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (RIPUC) approved the rate increase plan in February.

This is the first time that water rates for operations and maintenance have been changed since 2019 and follows a debt service-related rate increase in 2022. Read more »

Newport Community Electricity Summer Prices Set

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Rates Set to Drop in Time for Summer

NEWPORT, R.I. (THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2025) – Newport Community Electricity customers can expect lower bills this summer.

The Newport Community Electricity program has set its new electricity supply rates, effective with the May 2025 meter read. Prices will decrease significantly, dropping from 16.287 cents/kWh this past winter to 10.014 cents/kWh for the City’s default electricity option. These rates will be fixed for six months, through customers’ November 2025 meter read. Current participants do not need to take any action to continue in the program and will automatically receive the new pricing for their enrolled product.

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Newport Community Electricity Summer Prices Set

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Newport Community Electricity Summer Prices Set

Rates Set to Drop in Time for Summer

NEWPORT, R.I. (THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2025) – Newport Community Electricity customers can expect lower bills this summer.

The Newport Community Electricity program has set its new electricity supply rates, effective with the May 2025 meter read. Prices will decrease significantly, dropping from 16.287 cents/kWh this past winter to 10.014 cents/kWh for the City’s default electricity option. These rates will be fixed for six months, through customers’ November 2025 meter read. Current participants do not need to take any action to continue in the program and will automatically receive the new pricing for their enrolled product.

This May marks two years of Newport Community Electricity serving the community. The City is proud to have fulfilled the program’s goals of providing residents and businesses with cleaner electricity at competitive prices.

Most participants in Newport’s program use “Newport Standard,” which offers more renewable energy than RI Energy’s Last Resort Service while still delivering cost savings this summer. The additional renewable energy is sourced exclusively from local Rhode Island projects, including the Narragansett Bay Commission wind turbines at Fields Point in Providence, solar installations in West Greenwich, and additional wind turbines in Coventry.

The table below outlines electricity rates for residential customers compared to RI Energy. Rates for commercial and industrial customers can be found on the program’s website: newportcommunityelectricity.com. Newport is one of seven municipalities that jointly launched Rhode Island’s first municipal aggregation programs. Partnering with Good Energy as their consultant, Barrington, Central Falls, Narragansett, Newport, Portsmouth, Providence, and South Kingstown share a common electricity supplier and pricing.

The voluntary renewable energy content in the program’s standard and optional products comes
from projects that qualify as RI New, making a significant impact on the City’s carbon footprint.

Each year, Newport participants purchase more than 4,286 megawatt-hours of voluntary renewable energy, offsetting over 3,060,200 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.

This City-operated program is open to all Newport residents and businesses. To enroll, complete the enrollment form at newportcommunityelectricity.com or call the program’s supplier, NextEra Energy Services Rhode Island, at (855) 743-1101. Participants may leave the program at any time without fees or penalties. Visit the program website to explore all available options and submit any inquiries via the contact form: newportcommunityelectricity.com.

	Rhode Island Energy Last Resort Service (if you opt out)	Newport Basic	Newport Standard (Community Default)	Newport 50	Newport 100
Residential Price	10.068 ¢/kWh	9.771 ¢/kWh	10.014 ¢/kWh	10.548 ¢/kWh	12.977 ¢/kWh
Voluntary Renewable Energy	No additional renewable energy	No additional renewable energy	Adds 5% voluntary renewable energy (RI New RECs)	Adds voluntary renewable energy (RI New RECs) to total 50%	Adds voluntary renewable energy (RI New RECs) to total 100%
Duration	Apr. 1 through Sept. 30, 2025	May through November 2025 Meter Reads	May through November 2025 Meter Reads	May through November 2025 Meter Reads	May through November 2025 Meter Reads
The Last Resort Service Rate above reflects the total rate as filed by Rhode Island Energy in dockets PUC 25-03-EL and the rate has not yet been approved by the PUC as of March 17, 2025. The Newport Community Electricity Program cannot guarantee savings compared to Rhode Island Energy Last Resort Service for the duration of the Program pricing because future Last Resort Service prices are unknown.

Newport Restoration Foundation Announces 2025 Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards Call for Nominations

Thursday, March 20, 2025

2025 Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards Call for Nominations

Newport, RI, - The Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) is announcing the open call for nominations for the 2025 Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards. The annual Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards – a joint program of the Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) and the City of Newport – encourage excellence in historic preservation by recognizing exemplary projects that carry forward the legacy of Doris Duke and have had a significant impact on the preservation of the cultural and historic fabric of Newport, Jamestown, Middletown, and Portsmouth. The deadline for nominations is Friday, May 2, 2025.

Newport Restoration Foundation and the City are calling upon the local community to nominate best practice preservation projects completed within the last three years that have added value to the character of the community. The winners will be acknowledged at an awards event on Friday, September 5, 2025. Please see below for award criteria and links to the nomination guidelines.

AWARD CRITERIA

Eligible recipients are private homeowners; non-profit or for-profit organizations; and federal, state, or local agencies.

A wide range of nominations of varying sizes and budgets are encouraged, from small buildings to large; major rehabilitations to minor restorations; landscapes or streetscapes; and education or advocacy initiatives. Particular attention will be paid to projects that reﬂect one or more of the following themes:
- Emphasis on craftsmanship
- Incorporation of training the next generation of preservation tradespeople
- Attention to resiliency and energy eﬃciency
- Excellence in proactive maintenance (painting, rooﬁng, siding repairs, etc.)
- Visible community impact and/or community engagement component

Advancing community needs

All work related to the project or initiative must have been completed within the last three (3) years or is an ongoing program/educational initiative.
Nominations are welcome from Newport, Jamestown, Middletown, and Portsmouth.
Properties that are currently (or anticipated to be) listed for sale will not be considered.

Further information about the nomination process, including a listing of the information that must be provided in conjunction with a nomination, can be found at newportrestoration.org/DDPA or by emailing Margaret Back, NRF’s Preservation Projects Manager, at margaret@newportrestoration.org.
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