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Empowering Energy Efficiency: Solutions for Competitively Priced Electricity in Massachusetts

This symposium highlights the rising electricity costs in Massachusetts and offers actionable solutions for enhancing energy efficiency to reduce expenses. The potential amendments address current challenges and aim to empower ratepayers by providing more control over their energy usage and expenditures. Learn about the proposed changes and how they could benefit businesses and residents in the state. For more information and to delve deeper into these crucial topics, contact Robert Ruddock at Smith, Segel & Ruddock in Boston.

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Empowering Energy Efficiency: Solutions for Competitively Priced Electricity in Massachusetts

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  1. Summer Energy SymposiumKeep the Lights on and Lower the Costs Take Action Now: What You Can Do Smith, Segel & Ruddock June 28, 2011

  2. S. 1679 – An Act Relative to Competitively Priced Electricity in the Commonwealth Situation • Massachusetts: Highest or near the highest cost of electricity in the United States. • High prices are contributing to the high cost of doing business in Massachusetts. • Passage of the Green Communities Act added costs to ratepayer bills. • Rate cases before the Department of Public Utilities have resulted in enormous and unexpected rate increases. Smith, Segel & Ruddock June 28, 2011

  3. S. 1679 – An Act Relative to Competitively Priced Electricity in the Commonwealth Solutions • Municipal light companies get funding for energy efficiency from RGGI. • Prohibits utilities from passing to ratepayers costs of fuel for certain renewable power plants owned by utilities. • Changes Section 83 of the GCA, long-term contracts for renewable power – cost recovery. • Allows out of state renewable generators to compete equally with instate generators for long-term contracts with utilities. Smith, Segel & Ruddock June 28, 2011

  4. S. 1679 – An Act Relative to Competitively Priced Electricity in the Commonwealth Solutions, continued • Requires utilities to provide accurate and timely itemized information to businesses – reasons and impact of increases. • Mandatory phase-in period for any increase over 10% of a current distribution rate approved by the DPU. • Discretionary phase-in period upon request for non-residential ratepayers with greater than a 15% increase distribution costs approved by the DPU. • Allows utilities to recover revenue for loss of consumption (decoupling) only when the loss of revenue is due only to energy efficiency programs. Smith, Segel & Ruddock June 28, 2011

  5. S. 1680 - Energy Efficiency Amendment Situation • Each utility in Massachusetts has energy efficiency programs funded by all ratepayers. • Individual ratepayers can access this funding by applying to the utility for monies under various programs. • This necessarily means that some funding is absorbed by administrative costs which costs ratepayers the use of the entire funding they are contributing. Smith, Segel & Ruddock June 28, 2011

  6. S. 1680 - Energy Efficiency Amendment Solution • On a pilot basis allow certain ratepayers to keep the money they would otherwise pay the utility. • Require those ratepayer to commit to absolutely spending the retained monies for energy efficiency programs or demand management • Eliminates middleman costs, empowers ratepayers to make investment they need for reducing energy use • Guarantees the monies are spend and targeted to investments unique/effective for the specific ratepayer. Smith, Segel & Ruddock June 28, 2011

  7. Call/Write for More Information: Robert Ruddock Smith, Segel & Ruddock 50 Congress Street, Suite 500 Boston, MA 02109 (617) 523.0600 rruddock@srhpublicpolicy.com

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