Lawmakers look into Mass. power rate spike
Citing recent increases in electricity rates, the chairman of a House oversight committee plans to start digging into the reasons behind those higher prices.
"Every member of the House has received concern from multiple constituents in our districts about the unusually high spike in electric rates over the past year," House Post Audit and Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. David Linsky said Tuesday.
Committee members plan to sit with officials from the attorney general's office in April for an informational meeting about electric rates. Linsky, a Natick Democrat, said the meeting is not a public hearing.
A committee aide said the gathering is intended to offer the committee an overview of laws and regulations pertaining to electricity rates. The meeting is set for 11 a.m. April 7 in Room 146 of the State House.
Linsky estimated electric rates have risen about 30 percent in the past year. "That's creating a significant hardship for every Massachusetts family," he said, adding the panel's goal is to examine whether the state can prevent similar rate hikes in the future.
In addition to learning about the reasons behind the higher electricity rates, Linsky said committee members want a better understanding of their current authority over rate regulation.
"This is a very technical, difficult area," he said.
Gov. Charlie Baker flagged "unprecedented increases" in residential and business energy and electric bills as a concern during his inaugural address in January, noting energy prices were falling across the rest of the United States. Baker attributed the rate increases to "inadequate delivery systems" and "poor planning and coordination" and said he planned to work on the issue with other New England governors.
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