Budget Amendment ID: FY2026-S3-378-R1

Redraft ENV 378

Natural Gas Cost Containment  and Reduction Committee

Messrs. Tarr, Montigny, Durant, O'Connor and Fattman moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___ the following section:--

"Section ___ -There shall be a special commission to analyze the costs of natural gas in the commonwealth, and to make recommendations for measures to contain and reduce those costs for residential and commercial consumers.

The commission shall consist of the chair of the department of public utilities commission, who shall serve as it's chair, the director of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center,  10 members appointed by the governor, three of whom shall represent natural gas transmission and distribution companies, one of which one shall represent municipalities 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 North East Gas Association, and 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.

Said commission shall evaluate all of the factors contributing to the cost of natural gas for residential and commercial consumers in the commonwealth, and 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, provided that such commission shall conduct not less than three public hearings which shall accommodate remote electronic participation, provided further that the commission shall file a report detailing its findings, together with any recommendations, with the clerks of the House and Senate, and the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy not later than December 31, 2025, provided further that the commission may file an interim report prior to such date."