By Christine Rasmussen
Relief From High Energy Bills
Has opening your energy bill become a task you dread? You are not alone. According to a new poll by the Massachusetts Chambers Policy Network, a consortium of state Chambers of Commerce, energy costs were consumers’ number one concern with a median monthly energy bill of $481, well above the national median of $347, making it one of the most expensive states for utilities.
Addressing this crisis, the House leadership enacted legislation that is expected to save MA ratepayers roughly $3 billion in the coming years, with some projections citing over $9 billion in savings over the next 10 years.
The legislation provisions include: The most controversial provision among lawmakers when the bill was debated on the House floor was the Democratic supermajority provision, which advances a $1 billion cut to an energy-efficiency program known as Mass Save, a program funded by ratepayers through a charge on utility bills. The measure cleared the House by a 128-27 vote. The cut to Mass Save is primarily aimed at its administrative, marketing, and advertising budget, and the bill orders an inspector general report on the program, due next year.
Other provisions in the bill are: Allowing smart solar permitting to get more projects online faster, but this may eliminate any local review in permitting. Removing barriers to nuclear energy by repealing Chapter 503 of the Acts of 1982, which established requirements for voter approval and legislative certification of any new nuclear power plant or any facility for the disposal or storage of low-level radioactive waste in the Commonwealth. Allowing high-voltage transmission lines on state highways.
Requiring labor peace agreements for geothermal energy projects to help support and create jobs, and adding prevailing wage requirements for work on thermal energy networks.
The legislation also creates a real-time, online retail residential customer bill assessment dashboard with explanations of customer bill components and analyses of the benefits of certain programs, procurements, and investments.
Requires distribution and gas companies to provide discounted rates for low-income and eligible moderate-income customers.
Requires that any standard residential default service rates cannot be changed more frequently than once every six months.
Protects consumers by restricting predatory marketing practices by competitive electric suppliers, eliminating automatic renewals and variable-rate contracts, requiring greater transparency, and establishing new licensing requirements for door-to-door and telemarketing firms.
Allows municipalities to opt out of competitive electric supply.
The House bill has now been moved to the Senate for debate, potential amendments, and passage, a process that may take several months, as this is only one of the pieces of legislation on our elected leaders’ plates, and with an April deadline for passing the state budget, that is at the forefront right now.
When the Senate enacts a bill, it is expected to differ from the House bill; so a “Conference Committee” is appointed to resolve the differences. The Conference Committee is a temporary group of three representatives and three senators. In practice, the report produced by this committee is almost always approved by the House and Senate. Finally, the bill proceeds with an enactment vote in both the House and the Senate, confirming the exact language that will become law, as agreed by both chambers. This vote completes the bill’s path through the legislature and sends it to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or send it back to the legislature with amendments.
So, for now, there is no immediate relief from the large utility bills many families struggle to pay, but there is hope that next winter’s bills will be lower than this year’s.
On a personal note: both Erik and I appreciated all the good wishes. We are now both home and feeling stronger each day when we can be out and walk through our special village. Thank you. Stockbridge is indeed a special place. CR
