Massachusetts residents were facing extremely high utility bills, particularly for gas, during the winter heating season. In response to the backlash, state regulators approved immediate reductions to residential gas bills for the month of March that customers will be billed for in April. This reduction applies to the gas supply, with reductions ranging from 7.4% to 16% for the remainder of the heating season.
Five gas companies, including Eversource and National Grid, submitted proposals to reduce bills, with some companies waiving carrying fees for customers. An additional $500 million reduction was approved for the Mass Save program budget over three years to help ease costs for consumers. Utility companies have argued that the higher delivery rates are necessary to fund state-mandated energy programs and infrastructure upgrades.
However, not everyone is happy about the move, with advocacy groups criticizing regulators for not pushing for more significant changes. They argue that the high delivery costs in Massachusetts are directly tied to utilities spending on outdated gas pipelines, with customers ultimately bearing the costs.
In response to customer concerns, regulators also extended the service shut-off moratorium to provide added relief to customers. The state is continuing efforts to ensure affordability for both electric and gas customers, with ongoing measures to address the challenges faced by residents during the winter heating season.
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