Finding 4 - Mass Save Municipal Impact Study

Utility bills lack transparency regarding required Mass Save contributions (energy efficiency charges).

In Massachusetts, utility bills are itemized according to MGL Chapter 164, Section 1D, which stipulates that all electric and gas bills sent to retail customers must be unbundled to separately reflect the rates charged for generation, transmission, and distribution services, as well as any other charges included in the total retail price.⁵⁹ However, Mass Save charges may be bundled into transmission and distribution services on gas bills, and even when they are itemized separately on electricity bills, they are listed as an energy efficiency charge (EEC) with no reference to Mass Save. Pursuant to DPU Orders 24-140 through 24-149, EECs are to be separately itemized on gas bills beginning in November 2025.⁶⁰ Currently, on gas bills, Mass Save represents a part of the distribution adjustment charge (a blanket category covering a large range of operational and regulatory costs), as opposed to being listed on its own. Figures 11 and 12 are examples of Eversource electricity and gas bills illustrating the above-mentioned issues.⁶¹

Figure 11. Billing Portion of an Eversource Electricity Bill (February 2025)

Figure 12. Billing Portion of an Eversource Gas Bill (February 2025)

Overall, utility bills remain unnecessarily opaque due to unfamiliar terminology and a lack of clear itemization, leaving many ratepayers unsure of what they are actually paying for. While the bills break down charges into supply and delivery components, key fees are labeled with technical or vague terms that provide little meaningful information to the average consumer. The connection between the EEC and Mass Save is not explicitly stated on most bills, making it difficult for customers to understand what their contribution is funding. Similarly, the distribution adjustment charge, which appears on gas bills, is poorly explained on utility providers’ websites. Without clearer descriptions and better itemization, many utility bills remain opaque, preventing consumers from making informed decisions about their energy use and costs.

59.     See MGL Chapter 64, Section 1D (1997).

60.     Department of Public Utilities. 2025-2027 Three Year Plan Order. February 28, 2025. See discussion on current itemization on pages 255–257 and order on new gas bill itemization on page 259.

61.     In addition to the information on bills, providers maintain explanatory webpages. See Eversource’s webpages for electricity bills here and for gas bills here. 

Date published:	September 29, 2025