An additional 12,000 customers have signed up for bill management programs. Since September, some 60,000 National Grid customers have enrolled in its discount program, allowing eligible customers to save 25% to 32% on their utility bills. In preparation for the winter season, DPU met with utility companies and told them to promote and allow residential customers to enroll in budget billing programs, guide customers who have difficulty paying their bills toward appropriate assistance programs, along with other steps. National Grid worker Roderick Jackson’s family seeking justice in hit-and-run that killed their ‘everything’ Utility providers have largely blamed global factors such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, supply chain disruptions, and inflation for the increased energy costs. “Several winter months remain, and it is untenable for our residents and businesses to continue to pay these outrageous and unfair prices,” the legislators wrote. “We are requesting that the DPU take immediate action to reassess the recently granted rate increases,” the State House lawmakers recently wrote to Nelson, later adding, “It is the DPU’s duty to protect our citizens from unfair and deeply damaging prices. In a letter to DPU Chair Matthew Nelson about the energy rate increases, the legislators noted that fuel prices have dropped since DPU approved the rate increases. Now that the winter energy bills have landed on residents’ kitchen tables, Massachusetts lawmakers are again pleading with the Department of Public Utilities to do something about it. State officials had warned about this significant jump months ago, predicting that the cost of heating would surge by a whopping 54.6% for electric customers and 28.6% for natural gas. Some Bay Staters’ electric bills have spiked by several hundred dollars since the winter started. Over the border in New Hampshire, Eversource announced in July that electric rates would be doubling for many residents due to higher natural gas prices fueled in part by the war in Ukraine.As “outrageous” energy bills crush residents’ wallets this winter, State House legislators are urging the Department of Public Utilities to “take immediate action” about the skyrocketing utility costs and reverse the rate hikes. Our office is exploring all possible options to alleviate this burden and help customers pay their bills this winter." "We urge the DPU to find ways to lessen the impact on energy bills and find long term solutions to prevent customers from seeing rates like these ever again. "National Grid’s rate hike will be devastating for hundreds of thousands of customers in Massachusetts who simply cannot afford it," a representative said in a statement. Prompted by Wednesday's announcement, the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office said it was meeting with local utility companies, regulators and consumer groups to look for ways to help residents deal with costs. Those rate increases would take effect Nov. They said their average residential customer using 126 therms of gas a month would see an increase of about 38%, or $86 on their natural gas bill over last winter. However, Eversource did announce Wednesday that it has submitted a proposal to the Department of Public Utilities seeking to raise its natural gas rates. National Grid announced a 64% increase in electric rates Wednesday, along with a 22% increase in natural gas prices “We know winter isn’t far away, so we’re encouraging and making it easier for our customers to take action now and letting them know that we are here to help,” Burt said. It consists of educating customers on how they can reduce and manage their energy costs. The company said its "Winter Customer Savings Initiative" is aimed at helping customers cope with rising energy costs. Given that, we think it’s a good time to work with our regulators and other stakeholders to review the process and electricity supply dynamics in the region, with an eye toward reducing price volatility and maintaining a secure, reliable and resilient energy system for the future.” “Today, under a sustained, high market price environment, it is challenging to maintain affordable prices. But things have fundamentally changed,” Helen Burt, the company's chief customer officer, said in a statement. That process has served customers well over the years and provides flexibility for unforeseen events, like limited supplier response to solicitations. "National Grid buys electricity on behalf of its customers from the wholesale power market through a regulatory approved process established 20 years ago. Get Boston local news, weather forecasts, lifestyle and entertainment stories to your inbox.
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