HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3099        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3338

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Paul W. Mark

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to the agriculture and farm energy discount.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3099        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3338

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act relative to the agriculture and farm energy discount.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 315 of chapter 164 of the General Laws is hereby be replaced with the following:

-          Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, any distribution company, aggregator, gas company, municipal lighting plant, or supplier, as defined and governed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 164 of the General Laws, shall be required to provide electricity or gas services to persons or corporation engaged in the business of agriculture or farming, as defined pursuant to section 1A of chapter 128 of the General Laws, at rates, prices, and charges established at least 20 per cent below any other rate, price, or charge category, with further rates, price, or charge considerations granted for off-peak consumption. Should any distribution company, aggregator, gas company, municipal lighting plant, or supplier willingly neglect to provide for such rates, prices, and charges at least 10 per cent below any other rate, price, or charge category, with further rates, price, or charge considerations granted for off-peak consumption, then such distribution company, aggregator, gas company, municipal lighting plant, or supplier shall pay a person or corporation engaged in agriculture as described in this section an amount no less than three times the value of the discount which otherwise would have been applied to the electricity or gas service for the previous five years but only for years after the enactment of this section. This section shall be enforced by the department of public utilities, established in section 1 of chapter 25 of the General Laws.