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Competing to Overcharge Consumers: The Competitive Electric Supplier Market in Massachusetts
In 1997, Massachusetts passed the Electric Restructuring Act and deregulated its electric utility companies. Prior to that change in the law, electric utilities (local distribution companies or LDCs) owned the power plants that generate electricity and the local utility poles and lines seen on virtually every street that connect homes and businesses to the electricity…
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A New Customer Bill of Rights: Affordable Utility Services
CO-AUTHORED WITH DERON LOVAAS AND LARRY LEVINE (NRDC) Utility services–electricity, heat, water, sanitation, telecommunications, and internet access–are essential to health, safety, and daily life. The vital need for uninterrupted utility service was evident before the coronavirus pandemic, but the COVID-19 public health emergency has reinforced the essential nature of utility service and the threats of…
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What States Can Do to Help Consumers: Energy Insecurity
Over a quarter of U.S. households face challenges in paying energy bills or keeping their homes heated or cooled, including 50% of households with less than $20,000 in annual income.
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PowerPoint: Helping Those Harmed Financially from COVID-19
A webinar presented to over 890 registrants with a focus on: Protecting stimulus payments; Dealing with car repossessions, including electronic repossessions; Navigating available mortgage relief and advocating for additional relief; Ensuring consistent utility and telecommunication access, and; Dealing with debt collection efforts.
Read More about PowerPoint: Helping Those Harmed Financially from COVID-19
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Powerpoint: Utility Customer Financial Impact of COVID-19
The Utility Customer Financial Impact of COVID-19: The Need For Flexibility and Reform in Utility Billing, Credit and Collections
Read More about Powerpoint: Utility Customer Financial Impact of COVID-19
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Testimony of Olivia Wein Before the Maryland House Economic Matters Committee Hearing on HB 1224—Electricity and Gas—Energy Suppliers—Assisted Customers
All states that have examined the financial impact of alternative energy suppliers on residential consumers have reached similar findings – alternative energy suppliers charge customers more for utility service that is essentially identical to distribution utility service.
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Request of the Office of Attorney General, Office of Ratepayer Advocacy for Investigation into the Effect of the Individual Residential Supply Market on Low-Income Ratepayer Assistance Programs
Consumer organizations write this letter to strongly support the above-referenced request for an Investigation into the Effect of the Individual Residential Supply Market on Low Income RatepayerAssistance Programs, which was submitted to the Department by the Attorney General onDecember 17, 2019. We urge the Department to open the requested investigation promptly andto devote adequate resources…
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NCLC Comments in Response to an Inquiry by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities
A letter encouraging the Department to consider how the public can have a greater impact on policies so that decisions will promote better economic and environmental outcomes for the greatest number of the Commonwealth’s citizens.
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Joint Comments on Tier 2 Proposal to Eliminate the Customer Account Number Requirement
On February 5, 2020, the Department of Public Utilities (the “Department”) issued a Hearing Officer Memorandum (“Memorandum”), requesting comments on a series of Tier One and Tier Two proposals that are part of the Department’s ongoing investigation into initiatives to promote and protect consumer interests in the retail electric competitive supply market.
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Testimony Regarding Deceptive and Abusive Practices by Competitive Energy Suppliers (Massachusetts)
Testimony by Jen Bosco in hearing on Massachusetts S. 195 and H. 331, An Act Relative to Protecting Residential Electric Customers
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