Gov. Healey urges passage of energy affordability bill, calls out utility profits and rate hikes

BOSTON —

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey urged lawmakers on Friday to quickly pass her energy affordability legislation, saying it would lower utility bills, increase oversight of utility companies, and provide relief to households and businesses struggling with high energy costs.

In a letter sent to lawmakers negotiating the final version of the bill, Healey called for swift action and criticized utility companies for pursuing higher rates while profits and shareholder payouts continue to increase.

“It is absolutely outrageous that, at a time when the people of Massachusetts are struggling to pay their energy bills, utility spending, profits and shareholder payouts are skyrocketing,” Healey said. “Enough is enough. Massachusetts ratepayers shouldn’t be footing the bill for unnecessary utility spending or excessive profits.”

The governor’s proposal, first filed in May 2025, aims to reduce energy costs by changing how energy is purchased, eliminating certain fees and charges from customer bills, increasing oversight of utility spending, and expanding access to more affordable local energy sources.

Healey also called on utilities to drop legal challenges tied to customer refunds and stop seeking rate increases that she says many residents cannot afford.

Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said the legislation is designed to address both rising energy prices and increasing utility infrastructure costs.

“Our energy affordability legislation meets the moment we are in,” Tepper said. “We’re ready to strike charges, procure more energy, and increase oversight over utility spending.”

According to the governor’s office, several major utilities, including National Grid, Eversource, Berkshire Gas, and Liberty Gas, have sought rate increases over the past year, some as high as 55%.

The administration argues that significant infrastructure spending has contributed to those requests while also increasing utility profits.

Healey’s office also pointed to ongoing disputes over utility profits. Earlier this year, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ordered New England transmission owners to return approximately $1.5 billion in profits collected over the past decade and lowered the allowable return on equity moving forward. Transmission owners later challenged portions of that ruling.

Healey said her proposal would give Massachusetts additional tools to control costs by bringing more energy supplies online, removing unnecessary expenses from customer bills, and holding utilities accountable for excessive spending.

Key provisions of the legislation include:

• Changing energy procurement practices to secure lower-cost energy
• Eliminating certain fees and profit adders paid to utilities
• Removing charges from customer bills
• Increasing oversight of utility spending
• Expanding energy development in Massachusetts
• Allowing the Department of Public Utilities to initiate utility audits
• Adding protections related to the impact of data centers on energy costs, communities, and the environment

Pressure has been mounting to slash costs for consumers facing high electricity and natural gas bills across Massachusetts.

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