Graphic courtesy of the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office.
Here's the bad news, Massachusetts: Eversource Energy is proposing a large rate increase, coupled with fees on solar energy and a structure that reduces customer control as well as incentives for cost-saving energy efficiency. Clean Water Action is joining with our allies at the Green Justice Coalition and Mass Power Forward to fight this egregious burden on consumers and attack on clean energy. You can take action online to oppose this rate hike right now!
In Boston, Cambridge, Natick, Barnstable and beyond, large crowds have turned out to oppose Eversource's plan. As noted by the Acadia Center and the Massachusetts Attorney General, Eversource is a requesting a large and unprecedented return coupled with automatic revenue increases.
To be more specific, the company is asking for:
- Highest-in-the-region returns on equity of 10.5%, which would increase rewards for overbuild infrastructure rather than utilizing clean energy alternatives
- Automatic annual revenue increases of at least 3.5% (roughly $35 million) per year, rather than incentives to improve performance and achieve consumer and clean energy goals
- Higher fixed monthly charges and demand charges that reduce customer incentives to save or produce energy and disproportionately impact low income customers
In addition to the hikes, Clean Water Action and our Green Justice Coalition partners are concerned that the company's proposed demand charges and other special fees targeting solar customers pose unwarranted and counter-productive barriers to the development of community shared solar, which has been one of the few ways residents living in rental housing can benefit from the ongoing transition to renewable energy.
For more details, check out the briefs from Acadia Center here, or take action with the Mass Power Forward coalition today to oppose Eversource's proposal! Check out a list of additional public hearings below!
Eversource Public Hearing Schedule:
April 5 at 7pm, Keith Middle School, 225 Hathaway Boulevard, New Bedford, MA 02740
April 6 at 7pm, Plymouth South High School, 490 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, MA 02360
April 10 at 6pm, The Berkshire Athenaeum Auditorium, 1 Wendell Avenue, Pittsfield, MA 01201
April 12 at 7pm, Springfield City Hall, School Committee Meeting Room (220), 36 Court Street, Springfield, MA 01103
April 24 at 6pm, Katharine Cornell Theatre, 51 Spring Street, Tisbury, MA 02568
April 26 at 7pm, Greenfield Middle School Auditorium, 195 Federal Street, Greenfield, MA 0130
