MA Governor Vows Winter Gas, Electric Utility Bill Relief: See How Much You Might Save

MASSACHUSETTS — Gov. Maura Healey said Massachusetts electric customers will see a 25 percent reduction in February and March utility bills, along with a 10 percent reduction for gas customers, as part of what she called her efforts to "stand up to the damage that President Trump is doing every day."

Healey said $180 million in "existing state funds" will pay for the two-month reprieve — which she was set to formally announce during her State of the Commonwealth address on Thursday night.

Healey officially launched her re-election bid on Tuesday with three Republican challengers lined up to unseat her and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll.

She said customers will start seeing these discounted rates in their February bills.

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"I called on the utilities to lower bills this winter, and now relief is on the way," Healey said. "We also know that long-term help is needed. That's why we're going to keep working every day to bring more
energy into our state, oppose rate hikes and get charges off of bills."

This is the second year Healey has sought a short-term reduction in bills, which tend to be volatile during winter months across New England.

In May, she filed legislation that she said would save Massachusetts residents $10 billion or more in energy costs over 10 years through reduced or eliminated fees, increased supply, and rules to prohibit month-to-month increases and price spikes.

The Energy Affordability, Independence & Innovation Act was an addition to the steps Healey took last winter, including a $50 per-customer bill credit for April, which she said would save $6 billion over the next decade.

"For too long, it's been the practice to add more charges to your bills," Healey said. "We're going to start removing a bunch of those things."

The state Department of Public Utilities said in December it was investigating all delivery charges on electric and gas utility bills amid the rising and uncertain energy prices of recent winters.

The state DPU said the probe is in response to Healey's call to utility companies in October to "review each and every charge that customers are currently paying to determine whether the charge can be eliminated, reduced, or its impact mitigated."

The DPU said it also plans to examine current utility billing practices and errors, and "utilities' performance in meeting their obligations to provide their customers with accurate, transparent, and timely bills."

Healey this week framed her re-election bid as a battle to protect Massachusetts residents against the Trump Administration policies, as the three Republican challengers have lined up to try to replace her on Beacon Hill in 2026.

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"These are tough times," she said in announcing her re-election bid on Tuesday morning. "Donald Trump is making everything worse."

Republican challenger Mike Kennealy, who served in the cabinet of former Gov. Charlie Baker, responded to Healey's announcement with a statement blasting her for residents moving out of the Bay State because of the high cost of living, which he said has been exacerbated by the governor's actions.

Former MBTA administrator Brian Shortsleeve and Army veteran and businessman Mike Minogue have also launched campaigns to unseat Healey.