State’s Ideological Alternative Energy Policies Continue to Punish Ratepayers

The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance issued the following statement in response to new electricity rate hikes taking effect tomorrow, Friday, August 1 for Eversource and National Grid customers across the Commonwealth. The increase will raise electric supply rates by over 12% for some residents.

“Massachusetts already has some of the highest electricity rates in the country, and now they’re about to get even worse. High energy prices act as tax and hurt low and middle income ratepayers the most. This isn’t happening by accident. It’s the direct result of bad legislative policy and Governor Maura Healey’s rigid and overly ideological energy agenda,” said Paul Diego Craney, Executive Director for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance.

Starting August 1, Eversource’s residential supply rate will rise from 13.2 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 14.8 cents, a 12.3% increase. National Grid customers will see their rate jump from 14.6 cents to 15.4 cents per kWh, a 5.5% hike. For many Massachusetts families already stretched thin by inflation, high taxes, and increasing costs of living, this will only add to the burden.

“Beacon Hill’s alternative energy mandates are directly driving these increases. So far, these energy policies have been nothing more than rigid, ideological feel-good measures that completely fail to achieve their claims. Instead, they enrich alternative energy companies at the expense of the hard working ratepayers of Massachusetts,” noted Craney.

“Whether it’s offshore wind boondoggles, costly net zero mandates, or the refusal to embrace reliable and affordable energy options, this administration keeps pushing the same highly flawed policies and ratepayers are footing the bill. Governor Healey and those in the legislature that championed the NetZero by 2050 mandate owe it to the ratepayers to disclose how much this mandate will eventually cost and who is going to pay for it. Despite mandating it into law, they refuse to answer these questions, and continue to force the ratepayers to pay for it,” said Craney.

Massachusetts’ aggressive renewable energy mandates and net zero emissions policies have made it one of the most expensive states in the nation for electricity. While other states are pursuing affordable baseload  energy policies, Massachusetts continues down a path of high prices due to the NetZero by 2050 mandate.

“Instead of focusing on affordability, reliability, and market competition, the Healey administration is obsessed with symbolism over substance. She wants to send a message with our energy bills and she doesn’t care how much Massachusetts families and small businesses have to pay. Massachusetts needs relief, not more lectures and rate hikes,” said Craney.

The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance urges state lawmakers to repeal the NetZero by 2050 mandate before more damage is done.