Eversource has proposed an increase of residential and commercial electricity rates across Massachusetts to the tune of $96 million. Per the newly revised proposed plan, WMECo, a subsidiary of Eversource hopes to increase rates to the average household in Western Mass by 10.1%. Larger business owners in the area could see a rate increase of 25%.

In the meantime, the shareholders of Eversource has a 10.5% return on equity. And the CEO - James Judge received a total compensation package of $4.5 million and the chairman of the board - Thomas May received a total compensation package of $7.4 million, both in FY 2016.

Moreover, Eversource proposes to increase the fees on solar and energy efficiency by changing the charge structure to "peak demand charge," meaning customers would be charged monthly at the rate of highest electricity usage.

Eversource's proposed rate increase structure (from mapowerforward.com)

1. Highest-in-the-region returns on equity of 10.5%, which would increase rewards for overbuild infrastructure rather than utilizing clean energy alternatives.
2. Automatic annual revenue increases of at least 3.5% (roughly $35 million) per year, rather than incentives to improve performance and achieve consumer and clean energy goals.
3. Higher fixed monthly charges and demand charges that reduce customer incentives to save or produce energy and disproportionately impact low income customers

We are calling on the Department of Public Utilities to defend the public against the unjust and greedy rate hike proposed by Eversource and its subsidiaries, WMECo and NSTAR.