The state Department of Public Utilities on Monday said it plans to work with gas companies “to provide relief” to customers who have suffered recent spikes in costs.
“We have listened to ratepayers, and we will be working directly with the gas companies over the coming days to pursue revisions to their delivery rates to provide relief as soon as possible for their customers,’’ DPU spokesperson Alanna Kelly told GBH News in a an email.
The state agency said they were in “high-level discussions with each of the six gas companies,” to address “price volatility.”
The moves comes amidst a growing number of complaints and calls for action to address rising rates that the department previously approved. On Sunday Gov. Maura Healey
sent a letter to the chair of the DPU,
A group of state lawmakers also
sent a letter to
And last week, a group of customers
filed a petition
Eversource officials said Monday that “energy affordability is a top priority” and they are ready to work with officials, regulators, and others to help. They said recent monthly costs for natural gas users has been due to cold weather and they’ve
scheduled several webinars
Elijah DeSousa, a New Bedford resident who founded the group Citizens Against Eversource, told GBH News that the recent actions seem like “damage control,” and he will push for more change. He said he started the group after being concerned about his own bill and then realizing he wasn’t alone.
“It sounds like they are absolutely terrified of what we will find in a forensic audit, which is exactly why we will push forward to the fullest extent,’’ he said in an email.