Eversource Electricity Rates Set To Rise In July

WAYLAND, MA — Eversource has asked state regulators for permission to raise electricity rates for customers in Massachusetts, and has estimated the average customer could see an increase of 2.4 percent starting in July.

Eversource wants to increase a portion of the electric bill called the "Energy Efficiency Reconciling Factor" (EERF), a tariff that pays for implementing the energy efficiency programs required by state law. Utility customers also pay an energy efficiency surcharge to fund those programs.

Eversource told regulators the "cost of implementing those [energy efficiency] programs exceeds other funding sources," and that's why the company is seeking an EERF increase.

If approved, the EERF would rise on July 1 to 2.93 cents per kilowatt-hour for residential and low-income customers. The average household using 530 kWh of electricity per month would see a monthly bill increase of $4.49. The average low-income ratepayer would see a bill increase of about $2.34.

EERF rates will also increase for commercial and industrial customers between 0.2 and 5 percent per month.

Eversource customers have until June 5 to comment on the EERF increase. Comments should be emailed to dpu.efiling@mass.gov and krista.hawley@mass.gov in PDF. Include the docket number D.P.U. 24-35 in the body of the email, plus your name. Eversource also wants comments emailed to its attorneys at jhabib@keegnawerlin.com and amarton@keeganwerlin.com.