State utility overseers are investigating all delivery charges on electric and gas bills as costs outpace inflation.
Why it matters: The review could reshape how utilities charge customers and potentially cap monthly rate increases as utility bills become more burdensome for Bay Staters.
Zoom in: The state Department of Public Utilities wants to know whether certain charges should be eliminated, consolidated or converted to fixed fees on the bill.
- It could lead to limits on monthly charge increases.
- They’re looking into fees like net metering charges to hopefully relieve some of the short-term cost pressure.
- They also want to know more about utility companies’ billing practices following severe billing errors this year.
State of play: The investigation is the latest in multiple DPU actions this year, including reducing the Mass Save budget, requiring some mitigation for last winter’s gas bills and strengthening gas system cost controls…