Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has urged the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to implement measures to provide both immediate and long-term relief for Massachusetts ratepayers burdened by high gas and electric bills. In a letter, AG Campbell highlighted the complexity and escalating nature of charges on gas bills, particularly the delivery charge component, which she describes as difficult for customers to understand.
"Gas customers understandably have reacted with outrage to recent hikes in their gas bills, specifically to the delivery charge component of those bills, which includes a multitude of charges that not only escalate based on gas usage but also are impossible to understand for most customers," wrote AG Campbell. She emphasized the need for a critical examination of these cost drivers with an eye toward energy affordability.
The DPU recently instructed gas utility companies to cut residential customer bills by at least 5 percent during March and April and defer these costs for payment in the off-peak season. However, AG Campbell suggested that utility companies should absorb some of these deferred costs to lessen the impact on ratepayers.
AG Campbell also called on the DPU to focus on affordability rather than company profits when setting energy delivery rates in future cases. Her office's recommendations include designing tiered low-income discount rates and improving relief assistance programs' accessibility so more customers can benefit.
The letter further requests decisive action from the DPU on programs and policies aimed at delivering long-term rate relief, ensuring energy bill affordability for both gas and electric customers.
A full copy of AG Campbell's letter is available online.