Last night, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed H.5151, its latest response to the energy affordability crisis gripping the Commonwealth. With utility bills straining household budgets and small businesses alike, lawmakers clearly felt pressure to act.

Tomorrow, the Massachusetts House will vote on H.5151, titled “An Act relative to energy affordability, clean power and economic competitiveness.” While that title sounds promising, the substance tells a very different story.

The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance said the Massachusetts House’s newly released energy affordability proposal acknowledges serious cost drivers within the state’s energy system but fails to reform the binding climate mandates that continue to push utility bills higher.