HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3590        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Natalie M. Blais

_________________

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 protecting consumers from unreasonable utility rate increases.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Natalie M. Blais

1st Franklin

1/17/2025


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3590        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[Pin Slip]

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3143 OF 2023-2024.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

_______________

 

An Act protecting consumers from unreasonable utility rate increases.

 

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

Chapter 164 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 94I the following section:-

Section 94J. (a) In any base rate proceeding conducted by the department under section 94 for electric companies or gas companies, the department may not approve an allowed return on equity higher than the average allowed return on equity approved in neighboring states over the preceding 4 years. Such requirement may be waived only upon a specific showing that the constitutional rights of the electric or gas company would otherwise be violated.

(b) The determination of allowed return on equity under this section shall not include compensation related to programs under section 21 of chapter 25 or any performance incentives designed to promote the efficient, clean, and reliable operation of the electric or gas system.

(c) For the purposes of this section, “neighboring states” shall mean Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire.