Energy, Utilities, & Telecommunications

Affordable & Equitable Utility Service

Utility services are necessary for health, safety, and economic security. At the same time, big changes and investments are needed to address climate change. NCLC works to make energy and utility service affordable while supporting equitable access to renewable energy, energy efficiency upgrades, and other technologies that reduce energy usage and emissions.

A New Customer Bill of Rights: Affordable Utility Services

September 28, 2022

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…

Read More about: A New Customer Bill of Rights: Affordable Utility Services
April 28, 2021
March 1, 2021

Featured

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Comments to NASEO’s IRA Rebates RFI Regarding Essential Consumer Protections

May 19, 2023

Group Letter in Support of Leadership Conference ACP Funding

May 10, 2023

Sign-on Comments to the FCC Regarding Implementation of the Safe Communications Act

April 12, 2023

Testimony to the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change Hearing on The Future of Gas 

April 4, 2023

Retail “Choice” in Electricity Markets: A Bad Deal for Consumers and the Climate

March 30, 2023

Joint Consumer Groups Comments to the Federal Trade Commission on Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims

February 21, 2023

Tariff-based On-Bill Financing: Assessing the Risks for Low-Income Consumers 

February 14, 2023

Op-Ed in The Hill: Before winter sets in, the Biden administration can cool heating prices

October 28, 2022

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

September 28, 2022

Comments & Letters

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Comments filed with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities re: Docket No. 20-80

May 6, 2022

Comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission re: the Affected Communities Discussed at the April 16th Office of Public Participation Workshop

April 23, 2021

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

January 10, 2020

Support Testimony – MA S. 2150/H. 3352, An Act Relative to Electric Ratepayer Protections

July 28, 2021

Group Letter in Support of Leadership Conference ACP Funding

May 10, 2023

Joint Consumer Groups Comments to the Federal Trade Commission on Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims

February 21, 2023

NCLC Comments in Response to an Inquiry by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities

June 14, 2021

Group Letter to Congress Urging Inclusion of Expanded Broadband in Upcoming Stimulus Packages

April 29, 2020

Letter Regarding Best Practices During MA Resumption of Shutoff Activities

April 10, 2020

Reports

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Advancing Equity in Utility Regulation

November 1, 2021

Reversing Energy System Inequity: Urgency and Opportunity During the Clean Energy Transition

March 6, 2019

Competing to Overcharge Consumers: The Competitive Electric Supplier Market in Massachusetts

Report: Protecting Seriously Ill Consumers from Utility Disconnections: What States Can Do to Save Lives Now

Issue Briefs

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Powerpoint: A Legacy of Deception, Fraud and Consumer Rip-Offs

February 25, 2020

PowerPoint: Disparate Energy Insecurity Impacts

April 14, 2020

Testimony

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Testimony Before the MA Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities & Energy Regarding Competitive Energy Suppliers

January 14, 2020

Testimony to the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change Hearing on The Future of Gas 

April 4, 2023

Testimony of Olivia Wein Before the Maryland House Economic Matters Committee Hearing on HB 1224—Electricity and Gas—Energy Suppliers—Assisted Customers

March 9, 2020

Testimony Regarding Deceptive and Abusive Practices by Competitive Energy Suppliers (Massachusetts)

January 27, 2020

Press Releases

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U.S. Consumers Will Save $30 Billion with Proposed Residential Gas Furnace Standards

June 13, 2022

Key Broadband Affordability Wins in Biden’s Infrastructure Bill

November 8, 2021

Appalachian, Wheeling Power Companies Proposal Will Cause Significant Rate Increases for Low-Income West Virginians

September 24, 2021

New Maryland Law Will Protect Low-Income Families from Overpriced Electricity and Gas 

June 7, 2021

LDF and NCLC Urge DeKalb County, Georgia, to Delay Lifting Water Disconnection Moratorium, Implement Stronger Protections Against Shutoffs

May 26, 2021

President Biden’s American Jobs Plan Would Deliver Clean Water, Electric Transportation Grid, High-Speed Broadband, and Housing Equity

April 1, 2021

Report: What States Can Do to Save Lives and Protect Seriously Ill Residents from Utility Shut-Offs

February 24, 2021

COVID-Driven Utility Debt Fuels a Looming Crisis in Shut-offs in Massachusetts and the Nation

February 16, 2021

Trump Administration Levels Another Assault on Consumers’ Energy Bills

January 14, 2021

From the NCLC Digital Library

Access to Utility Service

NCLC’s treatise on delivery of water, electricity, gas, and telecommunications, with everything a practitioner needs to know on metering, payments, telecommunications, and assistance programs.

Read Chapter One

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