News Archives - Fix the Grid

RATE CHANGES

admin — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:30:39 +0000

All of the investor-owned utilities serving residents in MA have recently filed for rate changes. CMP up in Maine is also going through this process. These proceedings are a good opportunity for folks to dig in, learn more about what goes into electric rates, and provide feedback to utility regulators. Especially with rates already as high as they are! Thanks to the MA AGO for sharing this info —

Boston Gas Company, d/b/a National Grid DPU #26-50
- On January 16, 2026, National Grid filed for a $144M (12%) net increase in gas base distribution rates. If the request is approved as filed, the company expects an average winter bill increase of 8.4% per month ($24) in legacy Boston Gas service territory and an average winter bill increase of 9.4% per month ($25) in legacy Colonial Gas service territory during the winter bill period.
- Draft Notice with 8 Public Hearing Dates
Berkshire Gas DPU #25-170
- On November 14, 2026, Berkshire Gas filed for a $27.9 million increase in gas base distribution rates. If the request is approved as filed, the company expects an average rate increase of 21.6% across all customers on a total bill basis.
- Public Hearing Dates:
- Written Comments may be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on February 27, 2026 by email to dpu.efiling@mass.gov, the Hearing Officer at lauren.morris@mass.gov, and the Company’s attorney, Brendan P. Vaughan, Esq. at bvaughan@keeganwerlin.com
- Public Hearing Notice
Liberty Gas DPU #25-85
- On June 13th, 2025, Liberty Gas filed for a $55.8 million rate increase in gas base distribution rates. If the request is approved as filed, the company expects an average rate increase of 55.5% across all customers on a total bill basis.
- Liberty Utilities and intervening parties in the rate case have requested an extension to the procedural schedule. As such, the DPU has suspended Liberty Utilities’ proposed distribution rates until May 31, 2026, to conduct its investigation.

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Connect with the MA Department of Energy Resources (DOER)

admin — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 19:26:10 +0000

Green Communities

The Green Communities Division (GCD) provides grants, technical assistance, and local support from Regional Coordinators to help municipalities reduce energy use and costs by implementing clean energy projects in municipal buildings, facilities, and schools. Find your Regional Coordinator here.

Siting and Permitting

The Division of Clean Energy Siting and Permitting is responsible for regulations that will guide the local siting and consolidated permitting process for small clean energy projects. The Division will provide technical support and assistance to municipalities, project proponents, and other stakeholders. Find your Regional Coordinator here.

The inaugural edition of The Energy Advocate, a biannual newsletter from the Energy and Ratepayer Advocacy (ERA) Division within the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (AGO). This first edition is for Winter 2025-2026.

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Utility Bill redesign:

admin — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 19:12:46 +0000

The MA Department of Public Utilities opened an investigation into Gas and Electric Delivery Charges and Bill Redesign (DPU 25-200)
Interested stakeholders may submit comments until 5:00 p.m. on March 31, 2026. Please refer to page 17-19 of the initial Order for submission details and the list of questions DPU would like comments to respond to.

The post Utility Bill redesign: appeared first on Fix the Grid.

Grid Services Study Report

admin — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 16:32:32 +0000

The MA Grid Services Study Report and associated deliverables are now available. You can check out the report on MassCEC’s website.

The post Grid Services Study Report appeared first on Fix the Grid.

ISO-NE Fails

admin — Thu, 22 May 2025 15:49:29 +0000

ISO-NE received a failing grade in a new national report, confirming what frontline communities have experienced for years – decisions are made behind closed doors and slowing our transition to clean energy.

The post ISO-NE Fails appeared first on Fix the Grid.

Industry News Highlights

admin — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 16:41:54 +0000

Between July 2022 and September 2024, Bob Persons wrote a biweekly digest of industry news for Fix the Grid members. Thank you, Bob! This is the link to the archive for his Fix the Grid Technical Group Industry News Digest.

Bob recommends the following sources for industry news going forward. All of them allow for email subscriptions.

John Kemp’s daily Best in Energy: An interesting big-picture source, particularly from the financial perspective.

Northeast Energy News: It draws from a multitude of local and regional sources.

Utility Dive: Reporters have inside connections to FERC and all U.S. regional transmission organizations including ISO-NE. Comprehensive resource.

The post Industry News Highlights appeared first on Fix the Grid.

Managing peak demand during summer heat:

admin — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 17:37:46 +0000

For those who are interested in resources related to shaving the peak (and hopefully avoiding having to turn on our most polluting power plants in overly impacted communities), check out these options:- Green Energy Consumers’ Alliance Shave the Peak notifications

– Metropolitan Area Planning Council peak demand notification program (more specifically for Boston metro area but still generally applies elsewhere)

The post Managing peak demand during summer heat: appeared first on Fix the Grid.

“Climate Resilience Playbook” – Help Shape It! (MA-specific)

admin — Tue, 14 May 2024 15:34:42 +0000

The Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, and Pioneer Valley Planning Commission are developing a “Climate Resilience Playbook” (Expected Spring 2025). Do you work for a local government, community-based organization, community health center, or another group contributing to local resilience initiatives? Help them understand your resilience priorities, challenges, and resource needs! Help Shape the Climate Resilience Playbook. Please click here.

The post “Climate Resilience Playbook” – Help Shape It! (MA-specific) appeared first on Fix the Grid.

Calling all Fix The Grid Committees

admin — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 18:46:32 +0000

The FTG Digital Presence Committee is responsible for the FTG website https://fix-the-grid.org/ and social media presence via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FixtheGridNE/. We support the mission of FTG by bringing our message and extending our reach within our own community and to the public at large. In order to make our sites more dynamic and informative, we’re looking for FTG members and their committees to energize our blog feed. Think of this as an opportunity for you and/or your committee to reach out to other members of FTG, make your opinions known, bring attention to news and articles of importance, recruit more members and participants, and build momentum towards our goal of a fossil-free electrical grid that provides justice for all.

With support from Mireille, we are asking all active subcommittees within Fix the Grid to give regular updates on your activities through our Fix-the-Grid blog. At our monthly FTG meetings, we will discuss a schedule for those updates. We are happy to provide editorial support. To make contributions, you may contact any of these committee members directly—Ron Smoller (dlanors@gmail.com), Sudi Smoller (susan.smoller@gmail.com), Kent Wittenburg (kentwitt@gmail.com), or Mireille Bejjani (mireille@slingshot.org)—or else use this form.

Thank you!

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TAKING BACK OUR ENERGY GRID

Monte Pearson — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 05:24:00 +0000

A rally and theatrical battle occurred on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at the South Boston
Maritime Park, barely a skip and hop from the only public meeting held by the
ISO-NE board of directors this year. Their meeting took place at the Seaport Hotel
in South Boston, just a few feet above the harbor water that will fill the area in the
next decade or so. The participants wanted to tell the world that ISO-NE, our grid
operator, is subservient to the fossil fuel industry, and needs to be liberated.
350 Mass’s Climate Courage, Fix the Grid and Third Act held the event to send a
clear message to ISO-NE, the governor, and the people of this region. We are
calling for the agency to throw off the shackles of fossil fuels and shift its mission
and governance to one that offers clean, safe, and renewable energy. We want ISO
to be administered by and for the people of New England.
The rally brought together the forces of a green future represented by humans with
(human sized) wind turbines and suns, ready to do battle with skeletons, grim
reapers, and men in suits (representing the ISO board and local utilities). We heard
a supportive statement from a representative of Senator Ed Markey and sang with
our own 350 Mass folk band.
The rival teams then marched down Congress Street and battled in the crosswalk
next to the Seaport Hotel. As they wrestled for the future of the earth, there were
many encouraging, loving, and money-grubbing chants to fortify each side.

The Battle comes to a climax

The Band at Seaport Rally

Steve and Wind Turbine vs. Gas

Katherine gives us the word from Senator Markey

Group Singing at Rally at Seaport

Fossil Fuels and Money go Walking Together

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