POWERING RHODE ISLAND’S FUTURE
How AI is making affordable energy more accessible to Ocean State residents
For decades, navigating the complex world of retail energy deregulation has felt like a game in which the rules can change mid-match. Consumers in deregulated states are legally entitled to choose their electricity supplier and price plan, theoretically creating a competitive marketplace that encourages lower costs. In reality, the experience for the average homeowner or small- business owner has been anything but user-friendly. Faced with complicated contract terms, fluctuating market rates and aggressive brokers, many consumers simply default to the standard plan offered by their utility, even when more affordable options may be available. Enter Kilowant, a digital platform that uses artificial intelligence to simplify the retail energy market. Founded in 2022 by energy industry veteran and Rhode Island native James Grasso, Kilowant is built around a straightforward mission: to remove the friction and confusion from shopping for retail electricity. FROM HIGH-END CONSULTING TO THE MASS MARKET To understand why Kilowant exists, it helps to look at the career of its founder. More than 30 years ago, Grasso entered the retail energy sector and eventually established SilentSherpa in 2000. The company developed a reputation for helping large commercial customers strategically time energy contracts, optimize terms and navigate complex corporate energy purchasing decisions. While Grasso’s expertise could save major corporations millions of dollars, high-touch energy consulting remained financially out of reach for many small businesses and residential customers. He watched as consumers struggled with market volatility, utility default rates and third-party agreements that could include complicated terms, fees and significant price increases after an introductory contract period.
The turning point came with the rapid development and commercialization of artificial intelligence in the early 2020s. Grasso saw an opportunity to translate the market analysis, risk-management strategies and data- driven decision-making he had developed for corporate clients into software accessible to everyday consumers. Working with his senior applications developer, Grasso spent nearly three years distilling decades of energy- market experience into an automated platform. In 2025, the team launched Kilowant v1.0 in Rhode Island, introducing an AI-powered approach to consumer retail energy procurement.
THREE CLICKS TO AUTOPILOT SAVINGS For consumers, the platform is designed to eliminate much of the research traditionally involved in switching electricity suppliers. Instead of manually comparing licensed suppliers, reviewing complex Electricity Facts
Labels or trying to deter-mine when market rates may be most favorable, users can have the process handled digitally. The process begins with a visit to Kilowant.com, where users upload a photo or digital image of their current electric bill. From
there, the platform’s proprietary Nonstop Shop™ AI analyzes information from the bill, including usage patterns and the current supply rate, and compares it with available market alternatives.
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