Rep Velis wary of legislation that may increase energy bills in Westfield
State Representative John Velis has weighed in on the State Senate’s recent proposed legislation on energy in Massachusetts. The bill in question is a conglomeration of several pieces of legislation aimed at reducing carbon emissions and increasing the amount of clean energy usage in the Commonwealth. It was released by a Senate Committee focused on Climate Change last month and currently sits in the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.
“I think there are a few really good things in this bill, but I also am wary of some of the proposals that could increase costs for ratepayers, especially in Westfield” says Velis. “I’m all for increasing renewable energy usage in Massachusetts, but we need to consider the pros and cons here and proceed with caution. Whether it’s a new tax, a new fee, or a rate increase, the bottom line is that the people of Westfield may have to dig deeper into their wallets. I have heard time and time again that people are struggling financially, and I need to make sure that this is my main concern when considering any legislation that could affect their monthly bills.”
The bill has been labeled “ambitious” and has many energy companies concerned about what the bill would mean for their operating costs. For starters, it would increase the amount of renewable energy that business and utility companies would be required to use, which could mean that their higher prices are passed onto consumers. Notably, it also lays the groundwork for a carbon-emission tax to be imposed on ratepayers based the amount of energy they use in their homes and businesses.
“I’m concerned about dipping into the wallets of ratepayers from both ends. If we increase regulation on energy providers, monthly bills could grow larger as it is. To then say that the consumers need to pay a tax at the back end for their carbon usage at home seems redundant to me,” continued Rep Velis. “I think it’s appropriate to incentivize energy efficiency, but again, we need to make sure residents and businesses aren’t experiencing drastic rate hikes, especially in cities like Westfield, which have smaller municipal utility companies that may not be able to spread around increased costs as much as the larger corporations.”
Westfield has one of 41 municipally-owned utility plants in the Commonwealth, which limit the role of state regulation in favor of local control. With the smaller size of municipal plants, it’s likely that any major cost increases would have a concentrated effect on their customers. In a letter sent by Westfield Gas and Electric to the Representative, the company cites concerns that some of the proposed legislation would “violate the basic premise of Municipal Light Plants” by undermining local control and that it would “significantly increase” electric rates for their customers. They also noted that they had “been able to maintain some of the lowest electricity rates in the region for several years, while continually reducing [their] carbon footprint.”
“I’m definitely not saying we should scrap everything in the bill- renewable energy is the way forward, not only in terms of preventing climate change, but also when it comes to creating jobs and growing our local economy. Massachusetts already is a leader in this sector, and it’s important that we continue to make headway. I’m just saying that more than anything, we need to be conscious of the effect legislation could have on our constituents and our local small business community,” concluded Velis. “Moving too far, too fast in one direction could have unintended consequences.”
