Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-311

ENV 311

Electric rates task force

Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section _ the following section:-

"SECTION_. (a) There is hereby established an electric rates task force to advise and make recommendations to the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy and the executive office of energy and environmental affairs on the current and future cost of electricity in the commonwealth.

(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 of representative; 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; 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.

(c) The executive director of the office of energy transformation may assign staff and resources, as necessary, for the work of the task force.

(d)(1) Not later than September 30, 2027, the task force shall produce a report which shall: (i) identify each cost component that comprises the electric bill of residential and commercial customers of each investor-owned electric distribution company in the commonwealth with a combined service territory of more than 100,000 retail and commercial customers; (ii) include the total revenue raised statewide from each cost component separated by utility and customer class; (iii) include the current total cost to each customer class on a kilowatt-hour basis and monthly basis for a typical user in each rate class; 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.

(2) The cost components identified pursuant to clause (i) of paragraph (1) shall include the date of origin and purpose of each cost component and whether said cost components are related to electric utility distribution costs, regional transmission costs or energy supply costs and whether the cost components were added as a result of compliance with meeting greenhouse gas reduction goals established pursuant to section 3 of chapter 21N of the General Laws; provided, that the report shall include and identify any cost components that are expected to be added to ratepayer bills over the next 10 years. The cost components identified pursuant to clause (i) of paragraph (1) may be combined if they serve a similar purpose; provided, that the cost components shall not be currently listed separately on a customer bill or necessary to meet greenhouse gas reduction goals pursuant to said section 3 of said chapter 21N.

(e)(1) The report pursuant to subsection (d) shall be made publicly available on the websites of the attorney general and the executive office of energy and environmental affairs for public comment for 30 days.

(2) The task force shall consider all public comments and may make any changes to the report based on public comment, if applicable, as determined by the task force.

(f) Not later than 30 days after the closing of the public comment period pursuant to subsection (e) for the report pursuant to subsection (d), the task force shall submit a final report to the governor, the speaker of the house, the president of the senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the chairs of the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy and the clerks of the house and senate.

(g) The report pursuant to subsection (d) and the final report pursuant to subsection (f) shall be made publicly available on the websites of the attorney general and the executive office of energy and environmental affairs."