Amendment #79 to H5151

Strengthening the Electric Rates Task Force

Representatives Jones of North Reading, Ferguson of Holden, Frost of Auburn, Muradian of Grafton, Vieira of Falmouth and Smola of Warren move to amend the bill in Section 66 by striking subsection (b) and inserting in place thereof the following:-

"(b) The task force shall consist of the following members: the executive director of the office of energy transformation, who shall serve as chair, the secretary of energy and environmental affairs or a designee; the commissioner of energy resources or a designee; 1 representative from the department of public utilities; 2 members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives who shall have a background in and understanding of electric rates; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house who has a background in and understanding of electric rates ; 2 members appointed by the president of the senate who shall have a background in and understanding of electricity rates; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate who has a background in and understanding of electric rates; the chairs of the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy; the attorney general, or a designee; 1 representative from each investor-owned electric utility with a combined service territory of more than 100,000 retail and commercial customers; and 1 representative from ISO New England, Inc."

and to further amend the bill in said Section 66 by striking the following words, “and (iv) include the annual rate increase for each cost component for the previous 10 years and the projected annual rate increases or range of rate increases expected over the next 5 years. The report shall compare individual rate components to current and projected rate components of all other New England states and at least 3 other states considered to be economic competitors of the commonwealth.”, and inserting in place thereof the following:

"(iv) include the annual rate increase for each cost component for the previous 10 years and the projected annual rate increases or range of rate increases expected over the next 5 years. The report shall compare individual rate components to current and projected rate components of all other New England states and at least 3 other states considered to be economic competitors of the commonwealth; (v) include recommendations that provide both short-term and long-term rate relief for residential and commercial ratepayers; and (vi) include a comparison of ratepayer affordability in the commonwealth with neighboring and similarly situated states, including but not limited to policy, infrastructure, and market cost drivers."

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #79 to H5151

Strengthening the Electric Rates Task Force