MA Gov. Healey Slams National Grid's Proposed Rate Hike: How Much More Could You Pay?

MASSACHUSETTS — Gov. Maura Healey is slamming a proposed 10 percent rate hike for National Grid natural gas customers starting next year.

The average customer could pay up to $25 per month more during the winter months beginning in 2027, with the increase that National Grid said is necessary for infrastructure and safety system investments.

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But Healey, who has campaigned against utility rate increases and price volatility while calling for more transparency in billing over the past two years, said her administration will "strongly oppose" the rate increase when it comes before the state Department of Public Utilities.

"Energy costs are already too high, and we are working on every front to lower them," she said in a statement. "My energy affordability legislation will save people more than $13 billion by taking charges off their bills and, at my urging, state regulators have opened a full investigation into all charges on people's gas and electric bills."

The state DPU said the probe is in response to Healey's call to utility companies in October to "review each and every charge that customers are currently paying to determine whether the charge can be eliminated, reduced, or its impact mitigated."

The DPU said it also plans to examine current utility billing practices and errors, and "utilities' performance in meeting their obligations to provide their customers with accurate, transparent, and timely bills."

The DPU said it will evaluate whether certain charges should be eliminated, consolidated, or redesigned as a fixed charge. The investigation will also review whether to establish maximum limits on how much specific charges can increase from month to month.

The DPU said the investigation will begin in the coming months.

Healey also blamed the Trump Administration for obstructing what she said are "major sources of affordable energy, like wind and solar from coming into our state.

She said she also opposes Liberty Utilities' proposed rate increase of up to 55 percent next year for its Southeastern Massachusetts customers.

National Grid said it will look to lessen the impact of the proposed increase with programs that spread out the cost of energy over the course of the year and expand low-income customer payment programs.

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