Following National Grid’s recent announcement that customers will see a substantial increase in their winter electric rates, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), along with fellow Republican Senators Richard Ross (R-Wrentham), Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth), and Donald Humason (R-Westfield), submitted a letter to the office of Attorney General Martha Coakley, for further clarification of this decision and its implications for Massachusetts home and business owners.
On
Wednesday, September 24th, National Grid issued a press release stating that
they recently filed with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU)
to adjust electric and gas rates for the winter. National Grid projects that
electric bills for customers will be 37% higher than last winter, citing higher
power supply prices as a cause.
In
the October 7th letter authored by Senator Ross, which was also sent to
Governor Deval Patrick, Chair of the Department of Public Utilities Ann
Berwick, and Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental
Affairs Maeve Vallely Bartlett, the Caucus wrote, “As Massachusetts families
struggle to meet their financial needs during the costly demands of winter, the
cost of this rate increase will present a serious burden. Massachusetts
businesses will face yet another financial obstacle to remaining competitive in
a challenging economy.”
The
Senate Republican Caucus requests:
• A full review and examination of Department of Public Utilities’ approval of
National Grid’s proposed rate increase to ensure that it is in full compliance
with Massachusetts law and represents the least burdensome course of action.
• The office of the Attorney General determines whether any options are available
to alleviate the burden that the proposed rate increase will present.
“With
NSTAR and Western Massachusetts Electric Company expected to file their rates
in November, it is important that we confront this serious issue early,” the
Caucus wrote.
Posted below is a signed copy of the letter to the AG from the Senate Republican Caucus:
