Strategy & Planning

“The Legislature amended the Department’s authorizing statute a few years ago to encompass both equity and greenhouse gas emission reductions, in addition to safety, security, reliability, and affordability.”

“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.

“Most utilities are accustomed to smart meters providing 15-minute interval data — sometimes every hour. But for grid modernization to succeed in a decentralized energy economy, that’s not fast enough. BEC’s Apolloware operates with 1-2 second data resolution, enabling near-instantaneous visibility.”

“This method of using the least expensive pigments to establish the foundation of a painting before applying the more costly and necessary color was a lesson that carried forward and informed my role as a state utility regulator.”

Navigating a Dynamic Industry: “A central theme of the program involved the intricate process of rate setting. Faculty guided participants through the fundamentals of rate regulation, covering revenue requirements, capital considerations, and the methods for allocating costs into rates.”

“As Pennsylvania nears 30 years since the Electricity Generation Competition and Customer Choice Act was signed into law, breaking up utility monopolies and creating competition for power generation and supply, I remain confident – and more at ease – with the decision to restructure the market, after analyzing the most recent data set.”

“Recent orders aim to permanently reduce energy consumption for homes and businesses, while lowering overall system costs.”