SPRINGFIELD — During a time when Eversource increased its energy rates this winter, the Springfield City Council is looking to better scrutinize the utility company’s installation projects throughout the city.
During its regular meeting on March 10, the council delayed votes on petitions for four underground gas facilities installations and one pole project by Eversource so the council’s committees could further discuss how these projects are affecting consumers’ bills and the city at large.
An Eversource representative was not in attendance at the council meeting to talk about these permits.
“I would like to pause all of it and put it in committees,” said Ward 4 City Councilor Malo Brown. “We’re just okaying a lot of this stuff without knowing how it’s going to reflect on the actual consumer.”
According to the council’s agenda, Eversource is looking to install underground gas facilities in Upper Hill Neighborhood, Indian Orchard Neighborhood and Forest Park Neighborhood, as well as a primary riser and 4” conduits on Memorial Drive.
The petitions were sent to the council’s Maintenance and Development committee, along with the Planning and Economic Development committee to see how Eversource calculates important aspects of its construction projects, including profit, net and loss.
“It’s irresponsible to sit there and think that [Eversource] calculated what this cost is going to reflect to the actual residents of Springfield,” Brown said. “They have to show us the numbers because this reflects our constituents and their bills.”
The unanimous decision by the council comes a couple weeks after an Eversource representative visited Springfield to hear from the public and members of the council’s Maintenance and Development committee about the “unprecedented spikes” in peoples’ energy bills across the state this winter.
Many residents during that meeting spoke about the astronomical delivery fee represented in their Eversource bills (tinyurl.com/3s5txt8j).
Some said the delivery charge was almost double the actual gas charge, while others talked about how they had to lower the temperature in their house to lower the supply cost in their bills.
In a statement to Reminder Publishing, an Eversource representative said a colder winter and rate adjustments in late 2024 were a couple reasons for an increase in rates, among others.
“This much colder weather driving increased usage, coupled with the rate adjustments that took effect in November 2024, are the primary factors impacting customers’ current bills. How much energy a customer uses ultimately impacts both the supply and delivery portions of the bill,” former Eversource spokesperson Priscilla Ress said in a statement to Reminder Publishing. “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.”
Immediately following the subcommittee meeting in Springfield, Eversource and National Grid proposed a 10% cut to Massachusetts gas bills for March and April just a few days after the Department of Public Utilities ordered energy companies to cut gas rates by 5%. However, those charges will be deferred to off-peak months, meaning bills will be slightly higher for that season, which begins in May.
Last week, Gov. Maura Healey introduced the Energy Affordability Agenda, which “identifies and advances actions” to lower energy bills for Massachusetts residents by $220 million starting in April, including $125 million in savings to residential customers that month through a $50 credit on electricity bills. The initiative also asks the Department of Public Utilities to work to establish a first-in-the-nation moderate-income discount rate and expand tiered-income discount rates for lower income customers.
“We need urgent action to bring down costs — and a plan to make sure price spikes don’t keep happening to our residents,” Healey said. “We will use every tool we have to help make sure families and businesses can afford to heat their homes and keep the lights on.”
With that assistance soon implemented, Springfield councilors want to slow down easements and installations presented by Eversource so they can better understand how these projects affect its residents.
“I agree that we need to slow down the process by which we approve these things without having Eversource’s input,” City Councilor Zaida Govan said during the March 10 council meeting. “Our constituents need to know where this money is going and why the delivery charges are so high.”
City Councilor Sean Curran agreed with Govan and Brown’s sentiments. He noted that in the past, the council would approve Eversource’s petitions for the sake of courtesy and efficiency, but times have changed.
“Our constituents are paying 25% extra on their utility bills,” Curran said. “There’s a lack of communication with that utility, and there’s a lack of transparency with that utility. And I think our constituents are feeling it.”
As of press time, there was no date for when the two subcommittees would discuss these Eversource petitions.
