PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — House Republicans have announced a suite of bills cutting back renewable energy programs they say are driving up Rhode Islanders' energy bills.

"Far too often, the utility is painted as the villain, but many of these cost increases stem from legislative mandates — laws passed by the General Assembly that forced utilities to buy expensive energy or fund inefficient programs," House Minority Leader Mike Chippendale said at a news conference Thursday.

The bills, proposed just before the legislative deadline, would do everything from ending solar and wind projects to eliminating the energy efficiency charge.

One bill would put a pause on net metering, which offers credits to renewable energy customers.

"Right now, solar customers are credited at the full retail ra

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