In response to rising energy bills, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at offering relief for residents and businesses. The legislation takes some positive steps towards affordability, but does it go far enough to bring meaningful savings for ratepayers?

What the bill does:

• Reduces the Mass Save budget by $1 billion, which cuts their advertising and administrative budget.
• Rebates 70% of alternative compliance payments back to ratepayers through 2029

The entire package is projected to save Massachusetts residents and small businesses $9 billion over the next decade according to state lawmakers.

Where the bill fell short:

• Removed language from the first House redraft of the bill that would make the states carbon reduction mandates in 2030 and 2050 more of aspirational goals and less rigid. Amendment #7 to reinstate that language failed.
• An amendment seeking to expand natural gas capacity was also voted down.
• Several amendments rolling back vehicle emission standards and the 2035 prohibition on selling non-electric vehicles in Massachusetts failed to advance.

The bill made a real effort toward reform, but the question remains whether failing to address the underlying cost driver (2030/2050 reduction mandates) will result in high energy bills again next winter. Past policies set in place by Beacon Hill set very rigid carbon reduction mandates that may continue to result in higher cost energy as the state rushes to electrification.

The bill will now move to the Massachusetts Senate where there has been little desire to address the energy crisis. NFIB will continue to provide updates and ask for your activism on this especially important issue.