City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and moved to adopt the item. Order adopted

Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and recognized Councilor Haxhiaj, who discussed concerns related to high utility bills and shared District 5 resident testimonies relative to said high utility bills.

Chairperson Councilor Russell discussed City Council’s authority relative to mandating utility rates with the City Solicitor.

Chairperson Councilor Russell spoke concerning the causes related to rising energy cost which included meeting capacity demands within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, project expectations set by the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to meet capacity demands, the process relative to a fossil-free future, a history relative to National Grid’s rate increases, the process relative to the Electric Sector Modernization Plan (ESMP), and available financial assistance for residents with the Director of Community and Customer Management for National Grid.

Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City Manager request Director of Emergency Communications and Management make available National Grid and Eversource’s local financial savings information as a resource for residents who may be calling customer service lines for assistance.”

Chairperson Councilor Russell then discussed operations relative to Mass Save and the process relative of the Stretch Energy Code development with the Director of Community and Customer Management for National Grid.

Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing how the city’s housing production will be affected by the Department of Energy Resources’ Stretch Energy Code and changes to Mass Save.”

Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed the process relative to Mass Save providing a free audit for residents, which governing bodies have authority over utility rates, the process relative to utility companies requesting rates with the DPU, how climate change affects utility bills, available budget billing programs, best practices National Grid utilizes relative to customer communication, and how rate projections may be affected if a fossil-free future is expedited with the Director of Community and Customer Management for National Grid.

Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Pacillo, who discussed methods National Grid uses to advertise public hearing dates relative to rate cases, best practices used relative to community outreach, available languages relative to advertisements, and operation profits relating to rising utility costs with the Director of Community and Customer Management for National Grid.

Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Bergman, who spoke concerning National Grid becoming a monopoly with the Director of Community and Customer Management for National Grid.

Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Pacillo, who discussed National Grid as a conduit company and the process relative to billing customers who utilize energy alternatives such as solar power or battery energy storage systems (BESS) with the Director of Community and Customer Management for National Grid.

Chairperson Councilor Russell discussed how Worcester could be affected by potential solar production restrictions and possible electricity rate tariffs with the Director of Community and Customer Management for National Grid.

Chairperson Councilor Russell then discussed how the utility bills are itemized, the process relative to each item increasing, a timeline associated with each item increasing, when Mass Save was added as an item to the utility bill, and what to expect in the future with the Director of Regulatory Affairs for Eversource.

Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed the importance of Mass Save and the benefit cost analysis relative to customers utilizing Mass Save with the Director of Regulatory Affairs for Eversource.

Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request Standing Committee on Public Works invite representatives from Eversource to a public forum to discuss the Mass Save cost benefit analysis report from the last year.”

Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed the different percentages related to energy served to Worcester residents between National Grid and Eversource, the potential decrease in gas utility customers due to residents opting for electric utilities, and the process relative to transitioning to a fossil-free future with the Director of Regulatory Affairs for Eversource.

Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Pacillo, who discussed the process relative to February’s increased supply rate, the process relative to reporting rate changes with the DPU, the process relative to assessing the delivery rates, and the responsible party related to leak prone pipes with the Director of Regulatory Affairs for Eversource.

Chairperson Councilor Russell discussed future expectations related to rate increases with the Director of Regulatory Affairs for Eversource.

Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the following speakers:
1. Nathalie Gibson, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to the item
2. Erin Michelotti, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to the item
3. Fred Nathan, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to the item
4. David Webb, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to the item
5. Gary Hunter, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to the item
6. Tasia Cerezo, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to the item

Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Haxhiaj, who spoke concerning the item.

Chairperson Councilor Russell moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed.

Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays

Request City Manager request Director of Emergency Communications and Management make available National Grid and Eversource’s local financial savings information as a resource for residents who may be calling customer service lines for assistance.

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing how the city’s housing production will be affected by the Department of Energy Resources’ Stretch Energy Code and changes to Mass Save.

Request Standing Committee on Public Works invite representatives from Eversource to a public forum to discuss the Mass Save cost benefit analysis report from the last year.