As Eversource gas bills rise again, legislators target delivery charges and oversight

Eversource has proposed an average gas rate hike of 13% for Southeastern Massachusetts.

By Isabelle Oss / Boston University Statehouse Program, The New Bedford Light, October 9, 2025

As frigid winter months approach, so do higher natural-gas bills. Eversource has proposed an average rate hike of 13% for its Southeastern Massachusetts customers. For New Bedford residents, the burden could be even heavier.

The rate increases come less than a year after the state’s Department of Public Utilities ordered major gas providers, including Eversource, to decrease residential gas rates, in response to the record-high delivery charges that spiked last winter’s bills.

The Nov. 1 increase could raise monthly bills by $41.26 for residential gas customers using the average amount of gas per month, according to Eversource. In New Bedford, about 80% of residential customers rely on utility gas for heating, while about 9% use electricity for heating, according to a U.S. Census survey. (Other customers mostly use heating oil, propane, or solar.)

The DPU has complete oversight of rate approvals, leading lawmakers to call for scrutiny of Eversource’s proposal and file new bills to increase legislative oversight.

“This requires our full and immediate attention, especially in light of the significant increases in January, February, and March of this year,” said Fairhaven’s Democratic Rep. Mark Sylvia. “Many ratepayers saw increases just on their gas bill of at least 30 or 40%, and that’s not acceptable.”

One of the main drivers of total monthly costs is delivery charges, or the cost of getting gas into a home. Delivery charges make up roughly 65% of a typical utility bill in New Bedford, according to Eversource, compared to roughly 35% for the fuel itself.

So what are our legislators doing to try to bring delivery charges back down?

Old gas pipelines: a major cause of spiking bills

New Bedford’s Democratic Sen. Mark Montigny has co-sponsored a bill that would cap delivery rate increases to 3% a year. It would also set up a commission to recommend cost-reduction measures for consumers and reforms of utility delivery fees.

“The biggest culprit of this program is the gas pipeline replacement program,” said New Bedford’s Democratic Rep. Chris Hendricks. 

The old and leaky methane pipes in the state need constant maintenance and replacement. The Gas System Enhancement Program, or GSEP, is responsible for about 23% of delivery costs, while the rest funds public energy efficiency and low-income energy programs. 

The Gas System Enhancement Program is poised to cost the state $880 million this year, up from $291 million when the program was introduced in 2015, according to a March report by Attorney General Andrea Campbell. Its cost has gone up by nearly 12% per year.

Sylvia, a former energy resources commissioner and a co-sponsor of Montigny’s bill, said that digging into the broken structure of utilities is a necessary long-term fix that Montigny’s bill would address. But the priority must also be short-term relief, he argued. 

Gov. Maura Healey’s proposed Energy Affordability, Independence and Innovation Act could provide that. The proposed bill could save energy customers an estimated $10 billion over 10 years through new approaches. For instance, it would allow companies to finance some upgrades through bonds, rather than monthly surcharge increases. 

It would also allow customers to pay for residential upgrades, like window replacements and heat pumps, in small increments.

Sylvia and Hendricks say passing these bills is a priority, but with changes to further address consumers’ concerns. “There are some things the DPU can do now, but we may want to consider including those as requirements in any final bill,” said Sylvia.

How much does Mass Save cost customers?

Another point of contention amid rising utility hikes is the Mass Save program — a statewide energy efficiency program funded by utility companies through customer surcharges — which has proven to be a double-edged sword for consumers.

It aims to decrease monthly costs by subsidizing upgrades like heat pumps and insulation for homeowners, but passes the cost to all consumers, even nonparticipants, via surcharges.

In February, the DPU approved a $500 million reduction to Mass Save’s budget. The cut was designed to decrease the amount consumers paid to their providers, but some legislators say it was not enough.

“The Mass Save program needs to be reformed,” said Rep. Antonio Cabral, a Democrat from New Bedford and another co-sponsor of Montigny’s bill. “I’m not sure, at this point, if it really makes sense that utilities are the major runners of the program.”

A major criticism of Mass Save is that it is inaccessible for many, posing an equity issue for ratepayers. Owners of some old homes in New Bedford may find that they can’t afford certain upgrades, even with a Mass Save subsidy.

And though renters can participate in Mass Save, their access is limited, and sometimes dependent on landlord approval. Nearly 60% of New Bedford residents are renters. 

“I know some renters take part in it; others complain that they can’t get the OK from the landlord,” said Cabral.

Renters are entitled to certain green energy benefits, such as guides to assess their energy usage, and rebates for using energy-saving products like advanced power strips and air cleaners. The more financially worthwhile structural upgrades, like windows, heating, and air-conditioning systems, are only accessible to owners.

A recent report by State Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s office found that residents in gateway cities such as New Bedford pay 24% more per person to Mass Save than residents in non-gateway cities, but get little to no return on that investment.

DiZoglio’s audit recommends that the Legislature created new incentives to increase landlord participation on behalf of their renters. It suggests transferring Mass Save’s administration — which currently collaborates with utilities — to an independent entity.

The audit also recommends more legislative oversight and transparency around MassSave.

“Doesn’t matter how sophisticated you are, look at that bill and try to figure out what it means,” said Cabral. “I think we need to make it plain English.”

There is no definitive finish line for these bills, but legislators hope to see solutions later this fall, especially as households brace for high usage this winter.

Isabelle Oss is a graduate student in journalism at Boston University, covering state government for The Light as part of the Boston University Statehouse Program.

Editor’s note: This story was updated on Oct. 10, 2025, to delete a comparison of New Bedford’s utility rates to other rates and an incorrect reference to the DPU’s relationship with Mass Save. The update also corrects and clarifies details about Healey’s proposed legislation and clarifies details about DiZoglio’s audit.  

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Our community—especially working families, seniors, and those on fixed incomes—cannot be asked to bear this significant financial burden, especially with the already high cost of living. I sent a formal letter to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to strongly oppose this rate hike on behalf of the residents of the 10th Bristol District. I have urged them to protect the public interest and reject or significantly scale back this proposal.

I will continue to fight for affordable and reliable energy for everyone in Acushnet, Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, and Rochester.

Our community—especially working families, seniors, and those on fixed incomes—cannot be asked to bear this significant financial burden, especially with the already high cost of living. I sent a formal letter to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to strongly oppose this rate hike on behalf of the residents of the 10th Bristol District. I have urged them to protect the public interest and reject or significantly scale back this proposal.

I will continue to fight for affordable and reliable energy for everyone in Acushnet, Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, and Rochester.