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April 14, 2026 Rain | 64°F
The 194th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Bill S.2248 194th (Current)

An Act relative to municipal voices in gas utility work

By Ms. Creem, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2248) of Cynthia Stone Creem for legislation relative to city council or select board consent in gas utility work. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

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Bill Information

Presenter:
Cynthia Stone Creem
The bill addresses the problem of gas companies providing inadequate information to cities and towns before digging up municipal streets to perform gas work. The bill would require gas companies to provide more detailed information about the purpose, scope, location, and timing of planned work, as well as general information about the condition of the gas infrastructure within a city or town. It would also ensure that municipalities have adequate time to consider and respond to the information they receive from gas companies. Receiving this information in a timely manner would facilitate coordination between the gas company plans and other municipal plans, such as water and sewer projects and street repair projects, so that gas companies are not ripping up streets shortly after cities and towns repave them. It would also give municipalities time to propose alternatives to gas pipe replacement work, which would be consistent with the recent climate law’s emphasis on repairing or retiring gas infrastructure instead of automatically replacing it. The bill appropriately balances municipalities’ interest in receiving information with the gas companies’ need to ensure safety. That is why it does not apply to emergency gas work.
* The bill summary was created by the Primary Sponsor of the bill; no committee of the General Court certifies the accuracy of its contents.

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