Residents concerned over rising utility bills, Eversource responds
WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass (WWLP) – Residents across western Massachusetts are reporting their Eversource utility bills substantially increasing and one Mayor is taking action.
West Springfield Mayor William Reichelt filed a resolution, requesting that the Massachusetts State Legislature and/or the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities investigate the cause.
'The recent increases in utility rates have had a direct and troubling impact on many of our families,' said Mayor Reichelt. 'Particularly those who are already facing financial strain due to inflation and other ongoing challenges.'
Mayor Reichelt said there should be transparency in the pricing process.
Eversource spokesperson Priscilla Ress told 22News, that the usage of electricity is up, but the total electric rate has actually decreased since the end of 2024.
Ress saying in Massachusetts the usage of electricity in January was 19% higher than in December and 39% higher than in November.
State Representative Orlando Ramos is asking the Department of Public Utilities and the Attorney General's office to investigate the rate increase.'I believe that the increase people are seeing may be a result of an unauthorized rate increase,' said Representative Ramos. 'How else can Eversource explain charging their customers more this year for using the same amount of energy they used last year? I'm asking both the DPU and the Attorney General's office to investigate the legitimacy of this increase.'
She said, 'The Department of Public Utilities reviews and must approve any rate adjustment before it goes into effect.' Saying all rate adjustments go through a comprehensive public process to be evaluated.
As for natural gas, Ress told 22News, that any increase customers have seen in the bills they've received for the last month compared to the previous month has been primarily driven by that increased usage as rates have not significantly changed between November and January.
There was a price adjustment for natural gas for Eversource customers in Massachusetts on November 1, 2024, to account for the cost, supply, and demand as well as a few other factors.
Ress further told 22News, that January 2025 was about 15% colder than December 2024 and 10% colder than January 2024.
The much colder temperatures and the November price adjustment are the primary factors customers could see their bill increase.
Ress said it's important to note that even if customers do not raise their thermostats, more energy is used to maintain the same temperature setting in colder weather.
Mayor Reichelt isn't the only one calling for an investigation. Springfield State Rep. Orlando Ramos today also called on the DPU to look into Eversource rates.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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