Massachusetts residents facing skyrocketing utility bills will see immediate reductions in their residential gas bills, state regulators announced on Friday. The reduction applies to the gas supply used in March and will be billed for in April.
The move comes as a response to public backlash against triple- and quadruple-digit bills issued by gas companies during the recent winter heating season. State officials said the reductions are part of ongoing efforts to ensure affordability for both electric and gas customers.
Regulators approved proposals from five gas companies, including Eversource and National Grid, which would reduce gas bills by 7.4% to 16% for the rest of the heating season. The approval means that residential and low-income customers will see a 7.4% to 16% reduction in their total bill, with costs deferred and spread out through the six-month off-peak season from May to October.
The state’s Mass Save program, which distributes rebates to consumers moving away from fossil fuels, also received a $500 million budget reduction. This move aims to avoid “additional volatility” that hit customers during the heating season.
However, not everyone is happy with the decision. The advocacy group Gas Transition Allies accused regulators of “scapegoating” energy efficiency and failing to push for meaningful changes to bring down consumer costs. They argue that delivery costs are tied to billions of dollars spent on outdated gas pipelines, which customers will ultimately have to pay for through increased bills.
In addition, regulators extended the service shut-off moratorium from March 15 to April 1 to provide added relief to customers struggling with high bills.
Source: https://www.masslive.com/politics/2025/02/mass-regulators-approve-plan-to-rein-in-sky-high-utility-bills.html