New Report Identifies State Policy as the Primary Driver of Rising Electric Bills

November 14, 2025

By Lisa Linowes

Executive Summary

A new white paper written by Lisa Linowes—energy policy analyst and Civilization Works’ Energy and the Environment Director—and released by the Massachusetts-based Fiscal Alliance Foundation finds that the sharp rise in Massachusetts electric bills over the past decade is driven primarily by state-mandated climate and energy programs, not by utility mismanagement. The report, Massachusetts Electric Costs: The Real Source of the Problem, shows that policy surcharges embedded in residential electric rates have quadrupled since 2014—rising from $15 to $59 per month—and now comprise nearly one-third of the typical household bill. During this same period, the average monthly bill climbed from $113 to $204, almost twice the rate of inflation.

The analysis notes that Massachusetts ratepayers now fund roughly $4.4 billion annually for climate-related programs—including the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), Mass Save, and solar incentive programs—yet there is no clear link between these surcharges and measurable carbon-reduction outcomes.

Linowes emphasizes that the analytical model used in the report—tracking program-level surcharges against actual bill impacts and documented emission outcomes—can be applied in other states with aggressive climate-policy frameworks to determine whether similar mandates are major contributors to rising ratepayer costs. The study concludes that meaningful affordability relief in Massachusetts will require legislative reform.

Direct Link to Full Paper