Massachusetts Public Utilities changes public meetings after Liberty Utilities submits proposal that would increase rates for some up to 80%

In the coming months, certain Massachusetts gas customers could see a sharp increase to their bill and a public meeting scheduled to discuss it has a new location and date.

According to the State of Massachusetts, Liberty filed a petition to adjust its base distribution rates. Utilities regulated by the DPU can file petitions to recover reasonable and prudent costs that have been incurred to provide safe and reliable service to its customers and have the opportunity to earn a fair and reasonable rate of return on prudently invested capital. 

The company’s last rate case with the DPU was in 2015 (DPU 15-75).

Liberty seeks to increase its gas distribution rates to generate approximately $30 million in additional revenues. According to the Company, the net effect of the request is expected to be a 55.5 percent rate increase, on average, across all customers on a total bill basis.

The DPU will review the new proposal, filed in docket DPU 25-85, and will suspend Liberty’s proposed distribution rates until May 1, 2026, to conduct its investigation.

In each base distribution rate proceeding conducted by the DPU under section 94, the DPU shall design base distribution rates using a cost-allocation method that is based on equalized rates of return for each customer class; provided, however, that if the resulting impact of employing this cost-allocation method for any 1 customer class would be more than 10 percent, the DPU shall phase in the elimination of any cross subsidies between rate classes on a revenue neutral basis phased in over a reasonable period as determined by the DPU. Section 94I

In this investigation, the DPU’s staff will review all written testimony, detailed cost data, and public comments. These documents will be filed in the docket, DPU 25-85. The DPU’s staff will also hold public and evidentiary hearings for this proceeding. The dates for those hearings will be posted once available. 

Potential Fall River/North Attleboro Service Area Bill Impacts – Residential

Bill impacts are pending, subject to the DPU’s investigation. You may also find bill impacts in docket DPU 25-85 in Excel and PDF.   

Liberty provides that if its petition is approved as requested, customers can expect the following bill impacts in the Fall River/North Attleboro service area, effective May 1, 2026:

• A residential heating customer receiving service under Rate R-3, that uses on average 100 therms of gas per month during the winter season will experience a monthly bill increase of approximately $78.86 (an approximate 37.0 percent increase in current rates);
• A residential non-heating customer receiving service under Rate R-1, that uses on average 21 therms of gas per month during the winter season will experience a monthly bill increase of approximately $44.50 (an approximate 80.9 percent increase in current rates);
• A residential low-income heating customer receiving service under Rate R-4, that uses on average 100 therms of gas per month during the winter season will experience a monthly bill increase of approximately $59.15 (an approximate 37.0 percent increase in current rates); and
• A residential low-income non-heating customer receiving service under Rate R-2, that uses on average 21 therms of gas per month during the winter season will experience a monthly bill increase of approximately $33.38 (an approximate 80.9 percent increase in current rates).

Potential Blackstone Service Area Bill Impacts – Residential

Bill impacts are pending, subject to the DPU’s investigation. You may also find bill impacts in docket DPU 25-85 in Excel and PDF.   

Liberty provides that if its petition is approved as requested, customers in the Blackstone service area can expect the following bill impacts, effective May 1, 2026:

• A residential heating customer receiving service under Rate R-3, that uses on average 100 therms of gas per month during the winter season will experience a monthly bill increase of approximately $103.39 (an approximate 60.6 percent increase in current rates); and
• A residential low-income heating customer receiving service under Rate R-4 that uses on average 100 therms of gas per month during the winter season will experience a monthly bill increase of approximately $77.54 (an approximate 60.6 percent increase in current rates).

Potential Commercial and Industrial Bill Impacts

Bill impacts are pending, subject to the DPU’s investigation. You may also find bill impacts in docket DPU 25-85 in Excel and PDF.   

Commercial and industrial customers can expect bill impacts to vary depending on usage and rate class.

The Company provides that:

• The average monthly bill impact for small C&I customers in the Fall River/North Attleboro service, at each class’s average use, will range from an approximate increase of between 43.0 percent and 49.7 percent;
• The average monthly bill impact for small C&I customers in the Blackstone service area, at each class’s average use, will range from an approximate increase of between 43.0 percent and 46.7 percent;
• The average monthly bill impact for medium C&I customers in the Fall River/North Attleboro service area, at each class’s average use, will range from an approximate increase of between 23.6 percent and 34.4 percent; and
• The average monthly bill impacts for large C&I customers in the Fall River/North Attleboro service area will range from an approximate increase of between 1.1 percent and 19.2 percent.

C&I customers should contact the Company for specific bill impacts.

According to a correspondence released by Massachusetts State Rep. Carole Fiola, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities will be hosting a public hearing with Liberty Utilities regarding their proposed rate increase at a new time and location.

“In addition to the virtual meeting below, an in-person meeting that I requested be changed from a Friday night to a weeknight will now take place on Tuesday, October 14th, 7:00 p.m. at Bristol Community College, in Building L.

“If you cannot attend in person or virtually, testimony can be submitted before close of business on October 15, 2025, for more information please contact DPU2585.LibertyRateCase@mass.gov.

“A virtual public hearing using Zoom videoconferencing will be held on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. Attendees can join by using the link below: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81706654438, from a computer, smartphone, or tablet. For audio access to the hearings, you can dial in at 1-309-205-3325 (not toll free) and then enter the Meeting ID# 817 0665 4438.”