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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2145 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2238
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Joanne M. Comerford
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act protecting consumers from unreasonable utility rate increases.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and WorcesterSteven George Xiarhos5th Barnstable1/31/2025John C. VelisHampden and Hampshire2/12/2025Adam GomezHampden2/18/2025 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2145 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2238
By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2238) of Joanne M. Comerford,
Steven George Xiarhos, John C. Velis and Adam Gomez for legislation to protect consumers
from unreasonable utility rate increases. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2088 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act protecting consumers from unreasonable utility rate increases.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 164 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 94I the
2following section:-
3 Section 94J. (a) In any base rate proceeding conducted by the department under section
494 for electric companies or gas companies, the department may not approve an allowed return
5on equity higher than the average allowed return on equity approved in neighboring states over
6the preceding 4 years. Such requirement may be waived only upon a specific showing that the
7constitutional rights of the electric or gas company would otherwise be violated. 2 of 2
8 (b) The determination of allowed return on equity under this section shall not include
9compensation related to programs under section 21 of chapter 25 or any performance incentives
10designed to promote the efficient, clean, and reliable operation of the electric or gas system.
11 (c) For the purposes of this section, “neighboring states” shall mean Connecticut, Rhode
12Island, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire.