House Democrats move to slash Mass Save budget in sweeping energy package designed to lower utility bills

Lawmakers on Beacon Hill moved closer to reining in soaring energy bills with legislation that would slash some $1 billion in charges for energy efficiency programs that are financed through utility bills.

While the new legislation and similar measures are in reaction to widespread complaints from consumers of huge electric and gas bills, environmentalists caution that in the long run reductions to programs that reduce consumption will only result in even larger energy bills down the road.

Money spent on the Mass Save program has led to substantial consumer savings — and not just for those who are taking advantage of the program’s incentives for appliances and insulation. An analysis by the Acadia Center, an environmental organization, found that for every dollar spent on Mass Save, residents receive $2.69 back in benefits, in part because less overall energy demand results in lower costs for everyone.

“What this does is utterly devastate the Mass Save program’s ability to operate,” said Kyle Murray, Massachusetts program director for the Acadia Center. “It will impact our ability to hit climate targets.”

To read the full article from the Boston Globe, click here.