North Shore Lawmakers Urge State To Reject Utility Price Spikes

SALEM, MA — Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem) and Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) were among 31 state senators who signed a letter to the state Department of Public Utilities requesting the rejection or mitigation of massive utility price hike requests this winter.

Both National Grid and Eversource announced plans to jack up prices this winter that could double the energy bill for average customers.

"With inflation and the rising cost of living, many people across our Commonwealth face the daily struggle of choosing between paying for groceries or other bills," Lovely said. "The utility rate increases that are being proposed now will only make an already pressing situation more dire.

"We need to be doing all we can to help Massachusetts residents and families this winter. Increasing energy prices is not the answer. Protecting our communities is."

The letter, which was also signed by 76 state representatives, called the increases a "public safety issue" that would "disproportionally impact the Commonwealth's most vulnerable."

"As the oversight agency tasked with prioritizing safety, affordability, and equity with
regard to energy rates, we ask that DPU do just that and protect Massachusetts residents from these drastic rate increases this winter season," the letter said.

Electrical provider National Grid said last month it would ask the state to double supply rates this winter: from last winter's 14.82 cents per kilowatt-hour rate to 33.89 cents this winter. National Grid says natural gas costs are also driving its rate increase because fossil fuel is the main energy source for the region's electrical grid.

Eversource said it would seek a 38 percent increase on top of last year's 22 percent hike.

"Utility providers largely blame global factors such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, supply chain disruptions, and inflation," the legislative contingent said in a statement. "Legislators believe the DPU can do more to tamp down these rate increases and their effects on consumers."

The increase will likely take place on Nov. 1 if approved.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)