Requesting Action on High Utility Bills

On Friday, February 14, I joined several House and Senate colleagues, including 8th Bristol District State Rep. Steven J. Ouellette, 11th Bristol District State Rep. Chris Hendricks, and Senator Montigny in signing a letter coordinated by Senator Jake Oliveira to the Chair of the Department of Public Utilities urging the department to take immediate action to reassess the electric/gas companies rate adjustments and conduct a review of their pricing structure.

I will continue to do what I can, through co-sponsoring legislation, working with colleagues in the House including our local legislative delegation and my fellow freshman colleague 1st Plymouth District State Rep. Michelle Badger, speaking to administration officials and the utilities to find solutions, and identifying resources to help customers in our district with their utility bills.

Below, you will find the letter in PDF format if you would like to read it in its entirety.

DPU Letter 2.14.25.pdf

Download PDF • 119KB

---

RE: Urgent Review of Recent Energy Rate Increases

Dear Chair Van Nostrand,

We write to express our deep concerns regarding the steep rate increases recently approved for investor-owned utility companies, particularly Eversource and National Grid. As temperatures drop, residents across Massachusetts are facing unprecedented spikes in their energy bills, creating an unsustainable financial burden on households and small businesses alike.

Constituents across our districts have shared alarming reports of skyrocketing energy costs with bills doubling. One resident saw their January Eversource bill climb to $449.91—nearly $300 of which was attributed solely to supply costs. Additional residents in affordable housing complexes have voiced deep concern over excessive delivery charges and fees, noting that they live on a fixed income and cannot afford these relentless rate hikes. Seniors and retirees have reached out in distress, questioning how Eversource can justify such exorbitant costs when Social Security benefits have only seen a modest 2% increase. Many are now facing an astonishing 27% increase for the coming heating season.

Eversource has attempted to blame these spikes on colder temperatures, increased usage, and rate adjustments implemented in November 2024. Yet many customers who have kept their thermostats at consistent levels are still seeing drastic hikes, raising serious concerns about the fairness and necessity of these increases.

Time and again, profits are prioritized over the well-being of Massachusetts families, seniors, and small businesses.

We urge the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to take immediate action to reassess these rate adjustments and hold Eversource accountable. While energy prices fluctuate, utility companies should not have free rein to impose unpredictable and excessive financial burdens on ratepayers.

A complete and transparent review of Eversource’s pricing structure and its justification for these increases is not only warranted but necessary to protect consumers from further exploitation.

With winter in full swing, the urgency of this issue cannot be overstated. We call on the DPU to take these concerns seriously and implement measures that prioritize affordability and fairness for all residents.

We appreciate your immediate attention to this matter and look forward to your response on resolving this situation.