Utility Rights & Affordability Archives

Full Utility Credit Reporting: Risks to Low Income Consumers

December 8, 2009

A research consultant has recently produced several reports promoting utility company reporting of all customer payment behaviors and transactions to the major consumer reporting agencies (CRAs). Proponents of full utility reporting contend that it is required to help “thin file” and “no file” consumers to build credit history and gain access to bank loans and…

Full File Utility Credit Reporting: Potential Harms to Low-Income Consumers

March 23, 2026

This issue brief discusses the risks and harms of full-file utility credit reporting, which urges utility companies to engage in monthly reporting of customer payments, including late payments, to the Big Three credit bureaus. In a time of skyrocketing energy costs, full file utility credit reporting will result in negative information being reported to the…

Utility Help in Massachusetts

March 13, 2025

Listing of resources to help Massachusetts consumers.

Apply Now for up to $30 a Month for Broadband Service with the Affordable Connectivity Program

February 22, 2022

What is the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)? ACP is a broadband benefit program for low-income households. ACP provides eligible households with a discount of up to $30 a month to lower the cost of broadband service (and up to $75 a month for low-income households on Tribal lands). Some internet providers also offer an ACP…

Still No Relief for Massachusetts Consumers Tricked by Competitive Electric Supply Companies

From August 1, 2017 through July 31, 2018, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) reported receiving approximately 832 complaints about competitive energy supply companies. Consumers reported aggressive and deceptive marketing practices targeting vulnerable consumers, as well as excessively high electric bills and difficulty cancelling contracts with energy suppliers. These complaints echo the same problems…

Report: Lean and Green - The Massachusetts Low-Income Energy Affordability Network (LEAN)

November 10, 2014

The Massachusetts Low-Income Energy Affordability Network (LEAN) is an association of nonprofit agencies that coordinate the delivery of government and utility-funded energy efficiency services to low-income utility customers throughout Massachusetts. Since 1997, LEAN’s member agencies have delivered energy efficiency upgrades to more than 100,000 low-income Massachusetts households. Still, up to 200,000 low-income homes still need…

Helping Low-Income Utility Customers Manage Overdue Bills through Arrearage Management Programs (AMP)

September 17, 2013

Across the country, low-income customers struggle to pay their utility bills. Their incomes are simply too low to keep up with gas and electric bills. Fortunately, Massachusetts has one of the strongest panoplies of low-income programs and policies in the country to make sure low-income households can maintain critical utility services. These programs include protections…

How Victims of Crime and Domestic Violence Survivors in Massachusetts Can Receive Discounted Voice and Data Service through the Federal Lifeline Program

May 1, 2019

For crime victims or domestic violence survivors, a phone can be a lifeline to police protection, emergency service, medical assistance, legal help, and support services and networks. But many lose phone service or have difficulty affording it because of financial disruption, separation, or relocation.

A Guide for Advocates to Recent Federal COVID-19 Relief to Help Consumers Pay for Essential Energy, Water, and Broadband Service

September 28, 2022

This issue brief provides an overview for advocates on the key federal COVID-19 relief programs that can help consumers pay for essential energy, water, and broadband service.

Advancing Equity in Utility Regulation

November 16, 2021

Future Electric Utility Regulation According to the Partnership for Southern Equity, equity is just and fair inclusion, and energy equity is the fair distribution of the benefits and burdens of energy production and consumption. In the context of electric utility regulation, equity can be a goal, tool, or metric. For example, the primary goal of…

Innovative State Actions on Residential Utility Bill Payment Protections During COVID-19 & Beyond

September 16, 2020

Voluntary and mandatory moratoriums on utility shut-offs adopted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have expired or will soon expire in states across the country. Utility regulators and other policymakers must act now to require more flexible and generous utility bill payment practices in order to avoid a tidal wave of terminations of essential utility…

Massachusetts Residential Utility Customers Still Owe Nearly $100M More in Arrears than at the Start of the Pandemic

February 15, 2022

This issue brief updates two reports the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) previously released in February and November 2021 analyzing arrearage data reported by Massachusetts electric and gas companies to the Department of Public Utilities in docket 20-58.2 While, overall, utility customers are in a somewhat improved position compared to the summer of 2021, over…

All