Request for Public Comment from the Department of Public Utilities

Please take a moment to read this important information from the Department of Public Utilities that may impact West Newbury National Grid customers:

"On November 16, 2023, Massachusetts Electric Company (“MECo”) and Nantucket Electric Company (“Nantucket Electric”), each doing business as National Grid (“National Grid” or “Company”), filed a petition with the Department of Public Utilities (“Department”) for an increase in electric base distribution rates. The Department has docketed this matter as D.P.U. 23-150 and has suspended the effective date of the proposed rate increase until October 1, 2024, to investigate the propriety of the Company’s request. The Company was last granted an increase in base distribution rates in Massachusetts Electric Company and Nantucket Electric Company, D.P.U. 18-150 (2019).
National Grid seeks to increase its electric base distribution rates to generate $131,232,856 in additional base distribution revenues. The Company also proposes to transfer costs recovered through certain reconciling mechanisms, along with associated income taxes, which results in an increase of $389,766 to distribution revenues, effective October 1, 2024. Based on these proposals, the proposed overall increase to distribution revenues is $131,622,621, which represents an approximately 12.7 percent increase in distribution revenue. The proposed base distribution rate increase is in addition to changes to other rates, such as supply rates and reconciling mechanisms, that occur during the year."

The Department will accept written comments on the Company’s filing until the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on April 30, 2024. Written comments from the public may be sent by email to dpu.efiling@mass.gov, the Hearing Officer at marc.tassone@mass.gov, and the Company’s attorney, Robert J. Humm, Esq. at rhumm@keeganwerlin.com. Please note that in the interest of transparency any comments will be posted to our website as received and without redacting personal information, such as addresses, telephone numbers, or email addresses. As such, consider the extent of information you wish to share when submitting comments. The Department strongly encourages public comments to be submitted by email. If, however, a member of the public is unable to send written comments by email, a paper copy may be sent to Mark D. Marini, Secretary, Department of Public Utilities, One South Station, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110.

The Department will conduct two virtual public hearings using Zoom videoconferencing on March 21, 2024, and in-person hearings in Lawrence, Brockton, Quincy, Worcester, Great Barrington, and on Nantucket throughout March and April.

For more information on the petition how to attend these public hearings, please see the attached file "23-150 Notice (12.15.23)".