AG plans to fight Eversource rate increase
Attorney General Maura Healey
Attorney General Maura Healey plans to challenge Eversource's request to increase its electric rates by $96 million, saying the utility company should instead be delivering savings to customers.
Eversource on Tuesday filed for rate hikes with the Department of Public Utilities, with company officials saying the proposed rates would "alleviate a revenue deficiency" totaling nearly $96 million.
The 7 percent boost in eastern Massachusetts would add about $8.45 to monthly bill, and the 10 percent increase in western Massachusetts would add about $11.64. Company officials said the planned rates incorporate costs associated with investments geared towards improving service reliability and expressed a commitment to clean energy technology.
"As a regulated public utility, Eversource is required to justify why the state should permit it to raise electric rates on residents and business customers," Healey said in a statement. "Our initial evaluation shows that Eversource should be returning profits to customers as savings, not raising rates. We urge the DPU to reject Eversource’s request for a rate hike."
Under state law, the attorney general's Office of Ratepayer Advocacy represents the interests of ratepayers in proceedings before the DPU. If approved, the rates would take effect Jan. 1, 2018.
According to Healey's office, the National Consumer Law Center will be intervening in the rate case.
Bill Vernon, the Massachusetts director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, said in a statement his organization will be "closely monitoring" the DPU proceedings because "small business owners are increasingly concerned that the high cost of energy is affecting their ability to compete here."
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments