“BOSTON, Mass., Sept. 3, 2025 — A grassroots coalition of Massachusetts citizens fed up with rising utility costs announced today that the Attorney General has certified three ballot initiative petitions designed to increase transparency, restore consumer consent, stop regulators from loading hidden charges onto monthly bills, and give customers a real choice to opt out of questionable smart metering technology.
“Families are tired of paying for programs and surcharges they never agreed to,” said Eliseu (Elijah) DeSousa, founder of the Citizens Against Eversource Facebook community and lead petitioner. “These initiatives respect people’s budgets and their choices. If you want to fund optional programs, opt in. If you prefer a traditional analog meter, you should not be penalized. It is basic fairness, and it is long overdue.”
The petitions, numbered 25-42, 25-43, and 25-44, now move to the signature-gathering phase for the November 2026 ballot after today’s legal determination that they meet constitutional form and relatedness requirements…