The States

“Cost to consumers is top of mind for the Commission and the Department. We understand that the high cost of energy is a burden for a lot of folks in Massachusetts, and that’s something we take seriously and are working on.”

“We are considering whether to limit the percentage of people’s income spent on energy bills. We have an energy burden docket considering tiered discount rates or targeting the largest bill discounts to customers most in need, and changes to utility service disconnection practices.”

“The next five years are going to be significant on the gas side as we continue to guide the transition of the industry, and on the electric side as we implement AMI and roll out time-varying rates. We need to do a lot on rate design, affordability, and heat pump rates.”

The DPU is led by Chair James Van Nostrand along with Commissioners Cecile Fraser and Staci Rubin. The PUF team discussed with them the latest events in regulation, as well as where the Bay State is headed in its energy transition. DPU Staff provided updates on what is going on in their divisions, and as a bonus, PUF Executive Editor Steve Mitnick talked with Secretary of Energy for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Rebecca Tepper.

“The State Energy Offices are most easily characterized as the energy policy arm of the governor of each state. They’re diverse. Sometimes they’re stand-alone agencies or located in a Department of Commerce. We are located within the California Natural Resources Agency.”

“We plan on doing the research and dialogue with communities on geothermal over the next several years, which is the first time that approach has been attempted in Hawaii.”

“We’re at a place where there’s a lot of focus on the PUC. There is a healthy conversation coming about not being able to have everything and realizing that by relying on your PUC to achieve the balance among these competing priorities, there are going to be disappointments.”

Twenty percent of the nation’s 200 state utility Commissioners completed PUF’s three-question anonymous survey.

“Much infrastructure growth and research and development are going to require continued government intervention, whether in the form of funding for research or loan guarantees. The picture, in my mind, has been getting a little clearer over the last few years, but I still don’t see a clear path to either 2030 or 2040.”

“The distribution system needs communication and management systems to provide a greater understanding of what’s happening on the distribution grid as large and small customers are installing more distributed energy resources. With this, utilities can better manage peak demands and ensure reliability.”