Staying Warm is Worth More Than 5 Percent
Are we gonna settle for 10?
This winter in Massachusetts has been a rollercoaster of erratic temperatures and record-high utility bills. According to local Boston news, on February 21, 2025, the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) mandated a minimum 5% reduction in residential gas bills for March and April.
For context, in December 2024, Boston households paid an average of 30.5 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for electricity—73.3% higher than the national average of 17.6 cents per kWh. Meanwhile, natural gas customers in Boston shelled out $2.51 per therm, a whopping 64.9% more than the national average of $1.52 per therm.
Before looking at the 5% discount requested on the public’s behalf, here’s the first catch from the mandate itself:
Any deferred costs will be collected through the local distribution adjustment factor during the off-peak season (i.e., May through October 2025)
You give me a lil’ i.o.u, and You give me a lil’ i.o.u.
The DPU's order stipulates that any deferred costs from this reduction will be recouped during the off-peak season, spanning May through October 2025. Translation: you get a discount now, but you’ll be paying it back later. A temporary reprieve, not an actual solution.
How did utilities handling our electricity and heat in Massachusetts respond? They saw the DPU’s proposed 5% and doubled it, offering a 10% reduction in gas bills (a bigger lil’ i.o.u). Beyond the rate “relief”, the DPU called for these companies to “accelerate efforts to promote budget billing programs for residential customers, which allow customers to spread their total energy costs evenly over time.”
While both National Grid and Eversource offer some assistance to lower-income customers, most people struggling with high bills won’t qualify for these benefits. Other solutions offered by the Big Two just offload the problem onto local communities, further removing themselves from any real responsibility.
A Fool’s Take
I feel misled by the DPU. If their mission is to ensure we pay the lowest possible cost for reliable heat and electricity, why is their version of relief a 5% deferred discount when people in Massachusetts have been paying 50–70% more on their utility bills this season?
A January 2025 electric bill from Eversource for a two-story, two-bedroom apartment (1,100 sq. ft.) in Easthampton totaled $427.16. A 5% reduction would shave off about $21—that’s about four large iced Dunk’s coffee a month after tax. I live in a one-bedroom apartment where my landlord covers heating. Do I think my faceless property management company will pass on these savings to me? No.
Even at 10%, these cuts do nothing to address an underlying problem: last fall’s rate hikes of 11–30%. The short term relief the DPU directed and Eversource and National Grid agreed to, makes no benefit to us in any way: neither true cost savings or improvement on quality of life.
But Why is it Costing Me a Limb to Heat Our Homes?
The DPU was good in acknowledging some of the underlying factors behind this season’s higher utility cost: “weather-driven high usage, lingering customer sensitivity to recent high inflation, and exceptionally high, program-driven delivery expenses.” But again I’m left wondering: If this season was “unprecedented” because of the factors mentioned, what’s to stop them from continuing next year? Or the year after that? How are budget billing and temporary rate cuts going to handle more homes and buildings dealing with changing weather patterns, and continuously increasing costs of living? The DPU and the utility companies can’t mandate the weather or inflation, but fact check me on that.
Which brings us to the third factor: "program-driven delivery expenses." This includes initiatives like Mass Save, which funds energy efficiency programs—via surcharges on our electric and gas bills. So while these initiatives do help reduce energy consumption in the long run, the immediate financial burden is on us, the people.
Friendly reminder: we don’t get to “shop around” for a better utility provider.
The Math Ain’t Mathin’ For Me
Critics, like this fool, argue that utility companies should absorb more of these costs, rather than offloading them onto consumers. Why? Because these same companies are reporting record profits and making multi-billion-dollar asset sales.
Some examples:
Eversource Energy recently agreed to sell its public water supply unit, Aquarion Water Company, for $2.4 billion. The money will be used to reduce corporate debt and reinvest in gas and electric operations.
National Grid is selling its U.S. onshore renewables business for $1.74 billion to focus on its core energy network.
If these companies are restructuring and generating billions in capital, why are we still footing the bill for efficiency programs?
In their mission statement, Eversource emphasizes its commitment to delivering "reliable, clean, and affordable energy," while National Grid envisions being "at the heart of a clean, fair and affordable energy future." So, if affordability is so central to their mission, why are we paying for their improvements? Is energy supposed to be affordable for them, or for us?
The current measures—temporary rate reductions, budget billing programs, and consumer-funded efficiency initiatives—offer limited relief without addressing the systemic issues in utility cost structures. To achieve meaningful and lasting solutions, the DPU should be leading the charge for a reevaluation of how energy programs are financed is essential, shifting more responsibility onto utility companies to align with their stated missions of affordability and reliability.
Why Criticize the Department of Public Utilities More Than Utility Companies?
Utility companies like Eversource and National Grid are profit-driven businesses; their main goal is to make money for their shareholders, regardless of their mission statement web pages. This focus can lead them to prioritize profits over customer affordability or infrastructure improvements. For example, Eversource has consistently increased its dividends for 24 straight years, reflecting its commitment to shareholder returns (Once again: WHY are WE paying for improvements to THEIR service?)
But here’s the thing: The DPU is a state agency. Their entire job is to oversee utilities and protect consumers, that’s us.
When utility companies propose measures that may not favor consumers, it's the DPU's responsibility to scrutinize, challenge, and, if necessary, reject such proposals to protect us. It is frankly an embarrassment that utility companies came back with a–marginally–better deal than the actual regulatory body responsible for negotiating on our behalf.
If utility companies are granted space to prioritize profits over affordability and reliability, it means the DPU is failing at its job (It’s all love, I promise).
The DPU needs to step up, hold utilities accountable, and force them to actually walk the walk with providing affordable, reliable, clean energy. Now is not the time for allowing business-as-usual tactics to temporarily ease public sentiment. Temporary discounts and budget billing are not real solutions. We need systemic change, like how energy costs are structured and true energy efficiency investment. We needed to see the work done by the individuals and companies in power, yesterday.
Green Dream Steps
In response to the recent surge in utility bills, Governor Maura Healey has announced plans to introduce an "Energy Affordability and Independence" bill aimed at lowering costs for Massachusetts residents and businesses. The details are still murky, but I’m cautiously (and cynically) hopeful. That said, both the state and the rest of us have work to do—and resources we can tap into in the meantime.
What follows isn’t a comprehensive list of action steps—I am a Fossil Fool, after all. But so are you! So if you spot something I missed, let’s connect.
If You Have 5–15 Minutes:
Contact State Energy Officials: Voice your concerns, feel free to use any questions you read here, just email or call:
Main Phone: (617) 305-3500
Consumer Division: (617) 737-2836 or toll-free at (877) 886-5066
Email: DPUConsumer.Complaints@mass.gov
Address: 1 South Station, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02110
Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER):
Phone: (617) 626-7300
Email: doer.energy@mass.gov
Address: 100 Cambridge Street, 9th Floor, Boston, MA 02114
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA):
Phone: (617) 626-1000
Email: env.internet@mass.gov
Address: 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 1020, Boston, MA 02114
Website: Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Connect with Your Legislators: Reach out to your local rep to advocate for policies that promote energy efficiency and affordability. You can find your legislator using the Massachusetts Legislature's search tool:
Find My Legislator: Massachusetts Legislature
If You're Looking to Get More Involved:
Local Advocacy Groups:
Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN):
Mission: Collaborates with local groups to improve state energy policies and programs.
Contact:
Email: logan@massclimateaction.net
Address: 34 Walden Street #213, Concord, MA 01742
Website: Massachusetts Climate Action Network
Boston Climate Action Network (BCAN):
Mission: Empowers Boston residents to take action against climate change through community engagement.
Contact:
Email: bostonclimateaction@gmail.com
Mailing Address: PO Box 300984, Boston, MA 02130
Website: Boston Climate Action Network
For Help Improving Home Energy Efficiency:
Mass Save: A collaborative initiative offering energy assessments, rebates, and incentives to improve energy efficiency. Services include no-cost home energy assessments and financial assistance for energy-efficient upgrades. Learn more at Mass Save.
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP): Offers no-cost home energy assessments and weatherization services to improve energy efficiency for income-eligible households. Services may include insulation, air sealing, and heating system repairs. Find more information at Self Help Inc.
For Help Paying Energy Bills:
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): A federally funded program that helps eligible households pay a portion of their winter heating bills. Eligibility is based on household size and income. To apply, visit the Massachusetts Home Energy Assistance Program.
Utility Company Assistance Programs: Contact your utility provider directly to inquire about available programs:
Eversource: Payment Assistance Programs
National Grid: Payment Assistance Programs
Good Neighbor Energy Fund: Managed by the Salvation Army, this fund provides one-time grants to households facing temporary financial difficulties who don't qualify for federal or state assistance. For more information, call (800) 334-3047 or visit the Good Neighbor Energy Fund.
Mass 211: A free, confidential service connecting residents to local resources, including utility assistance programs. Dial 211 or visit Mass 211 for assistance.