The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities will consider utility companies’ plans to reduce gas bill rates temporarily. Earlier this week, Eversource, Unitil and National Grid said they would drop customer bills by an average of 10% in March and April. The state Department of Public Utilities ordered the temporary reductions after NewsCenter 5 reported soaring gas bills fueled by skyrocketing delivery fees. It is a deferral, not a rate cut, so the companies can recover the money over the summer months. Meanwhile, National Grid is now backtracking its plan to charge interest when offering natural gas bill reductions starting Saturday. The company said it would charge 4.37% interest on top of the 10% reduction, but after DPU heard from hundreds of outraged National Grid customers, the utility announced Thursday night that it would not collect interest.Many customers said they would rather pay now than risk paying more later. DPU still has to approve the plans.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities will consider utility companies’ plans to reduce gas bill rates temporarily.
Earlier this week, Eversource, Unitil and National Grid said they would drop customer bills by an average of 10% in March and April.
The state Department of Public Utilities ordered the temporary reductions after NewsCenter 5 reported soaring gas bills fueled by skyrocketing delivery fees.
It is a deferral, not a rate cut, so the companies can recover the money over the summer months.
Meanwhile, National Grid is now backtracking its plan to charge interest when offering natural gas bill reductions starting Saturday.
The company said it would charge 4.37% interest on top of the 10% reduction, but after DPU heard from hundreds of outraged National Grid customers, the utility announced Thursday night that it would not collect interest.
Many customers said they would rather pay now than risk paying more later. DPU still has to approve the plans.