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Healey announces statewide cuts to winter utility bills
Electricity bills will fall 25% and gas bills 10% for every Massachusetts residential customer in February and March.
Ahead of her State of the Commonwealth address, Gov. Maura Healey announced Tuesday immediate cuts to electric and gas bills for Massachusetts residents, offering some mid-winter relief as energy costs continue to squeeze households.
Using existing funding sources, the state will cover the $180 million in rate reductions. Electricity bills will be reduced by 25% and gas bills by 10% for every residential utility customer in February and March.
Customers will begin to see the rate reduction in their February bills.
“Families cannot support big winter energy bills right now, so we called for more relief,” Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said in a statement. “With energy costs rising nationwide, we’re going to keep calling for strong action in Massachusetts.”
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Last year, Healey sent $220 million to consumers through rebates and lower bills after energy prices spiked. She also filed legislation to bring additional energy into the state and save consumers $13 billion, including by allowing utilities to go on the market and lock in the best prices, as private companies can.
The governor also called on the Department of Public Utilities to explain and justify every charge on bills, and pledged to eliminate unnecessary charges. Additionally, a new transmission line from Canada began operations last week, supplying 20% of the state’s electricity with hydropower, which is expected to lower bills by a combined $50 million a year.
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“We also know that long-term help is needed,” Healey said in a statement. “That’s why we’re going to keep working every day to bring more energy into our state, oppose rate hikes and get charges off bills.”
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