Senator Velis Urges Department of Public Utilities to Reconsider Winter Energy Rates as Price of Oil Falls 

(BOSTON – 1/23/2023)

Earlier this fall, Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield) joined colleagues on a letter to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) urging them to reject the then-proposed energy rate increases impacting residents this winter. Since then, the price of oil has fallen greatly, and this month Senator Velis once again joined colleagues to urge DPU to reconsider the high energy rates they had previously approved.  

While oil prices in the summer of 2022 had peaked above $140 per barrel, the letter from Senator Velis and his colleagues to DPU Chair Matthew Nelson notes that “since the time the Department of Public Utilities approved the utilities’ requested rate increases, oil prices have fallen dramatically, trading at $75 per barrel at the close of the day on January 4, 2023”. 

“This entire winter I have heard from constituents across my district about the high utility bills they’re receiving each month and the impact that these rates are having on their finances. Any opportunity we have to lower these rates and help folks out, we absolutely need to take a look at,” said Senator Velis. “Clearly the oil market is in a different place now than it was this summer and I think that DPU absolutely should be reconsidering these rates in response. We are only halfway through the winter, and anything we can do now will make a huge difference.” 

Senator Velis was joined by more than 90 Republican and Democratic colleagues on this month’s letter, which requests that “DPU take immediate action to reassess the recently granted rate increases”. Senator Velis stated that he is hopeful that DPU will consider the Legislator’s request and will continue to work to increase funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and state resources in the meantime.  

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