In State of the Commonwealth, Massachusetts Governor Healey to announce immediate reduction in electric and gas bills 

BOSTON – According to a release from her office, in her third State of the Commonwealth Address, Governor Maura Healey will announce several new initiatives to lower costs, including immediately reducing electricity bills by 25 percent and gas bills by 10 percent for every Massachusetts residential utility customer in February and March 2026. Her administration will be covering the cost of $180 million of these rate reductions from existing funding sources. Customers will start seeing these discounted rates in their February bills.  

“I called on the utilities to lower bills this winter, and now relief is on the way. Massachusetts customers will see their February and March electric bills reduced by 25 percent and gas bills reduced by 10 percent,” said Governor Healey. “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.” 

“Families cannot support big winter energy bills right now, so we called for more relief,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Our administration is working to help families make ends meet with $180 million in support, while continuing our advocacy for major reforms. Our energy affordability legislation would deliver lower cost energy in winter months by getting more energy built, getting us a better price, and driving down delivery costs. With energy costs rising nationwide, we’re going to keep calling for strong action in Massachusetts.” 

As energy prices spiked last year, Governor Healey sent $220 million to consumers through rebates and lower bills. She also filed legislation to bring more energy into the state and save consumers $13 billion, including by allowing the utilities to go out on the market and lock in the best prices, like private companies can. Governor Healey also called on the Department of Public Utilities to explain and justify charges on bills, and she pledged to eliminate any unnecessary charges. Additionally, a new transmission line just began operations last week, supplying 20 percent of the state’s electricity with clean, reliable hydropower and lowering bills by a combined $50 million a year.  

Proponents have argued that green initiatives and the previous stoppage of pipelines have led to increased energy bills.