LYNN — Inside the North Shore Community College Lynn residents gathered for the Customer Energy Saving Event on Tuesday, presented by the City of Lynn in partnership with National Grid and Home Modernization, a no-cost program that expanded to Lynn this past December and helps residents lower their energy bills.
There, Lynners also had the chance to meet with National Grid reps directly, one-on-one, to discuss their bills. The timing couldn’t have been better, given the recent growing concern over rising energy bills in Lynn, across Massachusetts, and nationwide. That includes the ongoing war in Iran, which is also impacting energy and utility bills to increase due to oil prices surging, as well as gas prices and airfare disruptions due to rising jet fuel costs.
A spokesperson from National Grid did not address the war directly, but did explain to The Daily Item that global events can drive wholesale energy prices, which impact what their customers pay.
“Whatever is happening in the world is something that the people that we buy power from take into account,” the spokesperson said Wednesday. “The customer pays what we pay. It’s a complete pass-through for the supply portion of basic service rates.”
In terms of electricity, the spokesperson explained that people can get their power in three different ways: There’s Basic Service from National Grid, they can go to the competitive market and get electricity, or, the third way is through municipal aggregation depending on the city or town.
National Grid purchases electricity on customers’ behalf from the wholesale market, which they do not control, and then, as directed by state regulators, they adjust their supply rates for electricity every year on Feb. 1 and Aug. 1 to reflect seasonal prices for electricity.
On Jan. 16, National Grid filed a petition with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to adjust its gas distribution rates to generate $342 million in additional revenue.
If approved, this would result in an increase of 8.4%, around $24 per month in the winter for those in the Boston Gas Territory and 9.4%, around $25, for those in the Colonial Gas territory. The new rates would be billed starting Jan. 1, 2027.
According to National Grid, the DPU is expected to make a decision by Nov. 30, 2026, for the new rates.
Right now, National Grid is focusing its efforts on keeping its costs down, supporting customers, and investing to reduce costs over the long term. That includes in Lynn, where residents were given additional information about Mass Save Programs, as well as a presentation that featured slides on how to qualify for residential discount rates and tips to lower heating and cooling costs through insulation and air sealing. There were also representatives from The Resolution Center, a non-profit that offers mediation services in Essex County.
Last week, the Department of Public Utilities held a public hearing in Lowell where customers expressed their concerns over rising utility bills, specifically gas. There will be a public hearing in Lynn on April 6 at the Breed Middle School Auditorium on O’Callaghan Way at 7 p.m.
