Amendment ID: S2529-39

Amendment 39

Energy Dashboard

Messrs. Tarr and Montigny move to amend the bill by inserting after section ___ the following sections:-

"Section ____ - The department of public utilities shall develop, implement, and maintain, a comprehensive, public- facing dashboard to display information relative to the cost and supply of energy for commercial and residential consumers in the commonwealth, provided that such information shall include but not be limited to:  i) investor owned transmission and distribution companies of electricity and natural gas, organized by region, ii) current rates for natural gas and electricity for each such company, iii) a clear and easily digestible explanation of the components of gas and electricity bills in the commonwealth, including regional variations, iv) the sources of gas and electricity being delivered by such companies, v) the date of the most recently approved rates for gas and electricity for each company, and  vi) a summary of the proceedings by which those rates were approved, vii) the duration of the currently approved rates and any anticipated new rate case filings, viii) any available incentives or discounts to reduce the consumer cost of electricity and natural gas, ix) average daily, monthly, and yearly consumption of gas and electricity, and any other relevant information.

SECTION __. There shall be a special commission to study and recommend reforms to utility delivery fee structures, industry best practices, and cost-reduction measures for consumers in the Commonwealth. The commission shall analyze the impact of delivery fees on ratepayers, identify the primary cost drivers, and evaluate regulatory or market-based strategies to mitigate excessive charges while ensuring reliable service. The commission shall assess the impact of delivery fees on consumer costs, market competition, and energy affordability through a review of historical rate structures, policy comparisons with other states, stakeholder input, and financial modeling to identify potential reforms that could reduce costs while maintaining reliable service. Additionally, the commission shall review the effectiveness of existing regulations governing delivery fees, identify potential legislative or administrative adjustments to enhance pricing transparency and efficiency, any and all options for reducing such costs in the short and long terms, together with the impacts of such options on efforts to reduce carbon emissions pursuant to current statutory and regulatory obligations, and the impacts of such options on employment levels and the economy of the commonwealth. The commission shall consist of the House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy, who shall serve as co-chairs; the Speaker of the House of Representatives or a designee; the President of the Senate or a designee; the House Minority Leader or a designee; the Senate Minority Leader or a designee; the chair of the department of public utilities commission or their designee, the director of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, 10 members appointed by the governor, three of whom shall represent electric transmission and distribution companies of electricity in the commonwealth, of which one  shall represent municipal light plants in the commonwealth, two of whom shall have expertise in energy policy and  represent consumers in the commonwealth, one of whom shall represent large employers in the commonwealth,  one of whom shall represent small employers in the commonwealth, one member representing the New England Power Generators Association, and one member representing the Independent Systems Operator for New England, one member representing environmental organizations in the commonwealth,  and one member appointed by the attorney general of the commonwealth with expertise in energy policy. Administrative support for the operations of the commission shall be provided by the department of public utilities. The commission shall submit a report detailing its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means, the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy, and the Clerks of the House of Representatives and Senate no later than twelve months after the passage of this legislation.”