SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2741        FILED ON: 3/10/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Ryan C. Fattman

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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 enhancing transparency in electric bills.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2741        FILED ON: 3/10/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act enhancing transparency in electric bills.

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. This Act shall be entitled the “The Electricity Bill Transparency Act,” and shall be construed in a manner to achieve its public purpose, which is to ensure that affordable electric service be available to all consumers on reasonable terms and conditions.

SECTION 2. Chapter 169 of the acts of 2008 is hereby amended by inserting after section 116, the following new sections:-

“Section 116A. The executive office of energy and environmental affairs shall annually report the estimated or actual ratepayer cost and benefits of each program and policy required under chapter 169 of the acts of 2008 to the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy. Said report shall be submitted to the committee no later than January 31 of each year. Whenever possible, the reported costs shall be presented on a volumetric percentage of electricity supplied from renewable resources to each end user customer class.

Section 116B. All information reported by the executive office of energy and environmental affairs as required under section 116A of this act shall be made available as a public record and posted to the department of energy resources website simultaneously with submittal to the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy.

Section 116C. All actual ratepayer costs of each program and policy required under chapter 169 of the acts of 2008 shall be itemized on each end user’s electric utility bill.”

SECTION 3. Chapter 179 of the acts of 2022 is hereby amended by inserting after section 91, the following new sections:-

“Section 91A. The executive office of energy and environmental affairs shall annually report the estimated or actual ratepayer cost and benefits of each program and policy required under chapter 179 of the acts of 2022 to the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy. Said report shall be submitted to the committee no later than January 31 of each year. Whenever possible, the reported costs shall be presented on a volumetric percentage of electricity supplied from renewable resources to each end user customer class.

Section 91B. All information reported by the executive office of energy and environmental affairs as required under section 91A of this act shall be made available as a public record and posted to the department of energy resources website simultaneously with submittal to the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy.

Section 91C. All actual ratepayer costs of each program and policy required under chapter 179 of the acts of 2022 shall be itemized on each end user’s electric utility bill.”

SECTION 4. Chapter 239 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by inserting after section 136, the following new sections:-

“Section 136A. The executive office of energy and environmental affairs shall annually report the estimated or actual ratepayer cost and benefits of each program and policy required under chapter 239 of the acts of 2024 to the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy. Said report shall be submitted to the committee no later than January 31 of each year. Whenever possible, the reported costs shall be presented on a volumetric percentage of electricity supplied from renewable resources to each end user customer class.

Section 136B. All information reported by the executive office of energy and environmental affairs as required under section 136A of this act shall be made available as a public record and posted to the department of energy resources website simultaneously with submittal to the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy.

Section 116C. All actual ratepayer costs of each program and policy required under chapter 239 of the acts of 2024 shall be itemized on each end user’s electric utility bill.”

SECTION 5. The department of public utilities shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act.

SECTION 6. The department of energy resources shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act.

SECTION 7. This act shall take effect upon its passage.