The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) held a public hearing in Fall River last night to seek comments on gas service rate increases proposed by Liberty Utilities.
The proposed rate increases, if enacted, would raise monthly rates for the average residential heating customer some 37 percent, or $78.86. Non-heating residents would see their rates rise by $44.50 per month, an 80.9 percent increase. Commercial and industrial customers in Fall River would seek hikes of between 19.2% and 49.7% a month, with smaller companies absorbing the largest percentage increase.
Liberty is also proposing other changes to its service, which could raise rates to upwards of 90 percent by 2030. If approved, the new rates would take effect on May 1, 2026.
No one testified in favor of the proposed rate increases. One of the interveners in the case is Citizens for Citizens, Inc. in Fall River, which administers its highly successful fuel assistance program that helps hundreds of low-income residents afford heat each winter. Executive Director Elizabeth Berube says the increases, coupled with uncertainty around federal funding for the program, put her clients in a dangerous situation.
One by one, residents provided passionate testimony on how the proposed rate increases will negatively impact their families and others in the region. Here is a sampling of what they said.
The DPU is slated to decide on Liberty’s rate proposal sometime next spring.
In the meantime, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is asking regulators to keep the cost of energy in check.
You can watch the entire public hearing here.
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