Massachusetts Governor Presses Three Utilities to Begin Electricity Refunds Promptly; New England Total Estimated at $1.5 Billion
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey wrote on October 13 to Eversource, National Grid and Unitil asking the utilities to begin returning Massachusetts customers' share of electricity refunds promptly, and to provide by October 27 a state-specific accounting, a payout schedule and an explanation of how customers will receive the money, according to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and other outlets.
The refunds stem from a March ruling by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which found the prior 11.14 percent base return on equity for New England transmission owners unjust and unreasonable and set a replacement rate of 9.57 percent, with refunds to be completed by May 20, 2027. The refund pool is estimated at about $1.5 billion for New England ratepayers overall; National Grid has estimated its New England Power Co. share at about $299 million.
National Grid said it disagrees with FERC's decision, is calculating the payouts and will begin processing them in 2027. Healey said Massachusetts families should not have to wait another winter to get their money back. The Massachusetts total and individual refund amounts have not yet been established.
Source: Reporting by the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and the Patriot Ledger
Source: 《伍斯特电讯报》《爱国者纪事报》
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 波士顿天际线，King of Hearts 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0（Wikimedia Commons）
