By Geena Monahan-For the North Star Reporter
A second public hearing on the proposed rate increase by Liberty Utilities saw strong pushback from both residents and local officials.
Held virtually on Oct. 7, the hearing was the second one regarding a number of increases that could see customers paying up to 80% more on their monthly bills.
Town Manager Michael Borg went before the Department of Public Utilities Commission, lawyers from Liberty Utilities and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and residents to strongly oppose the rate hike. He asked the committee to deny Liberty’s request to raise rates, citing concerns over affordability for residents and small businesses.
If the commission does decide to raise rates, Borg asked that it’s done in a fair and equitable way over time, not all at once.
Town Councilors Kevin McCarthy and Laura Wagner echoed Borg’s position and spoke on behalf of the residents.
“While I recognize that there are expenses involved with safety and ability to deliver natural gas, it’s unacceptable to think households can simply absorb as much as an $80 increase a month in their bill,” said Wagner. “Many residents struggle with a basic rise in expenses.”
McCarthy alluded to “some recent things in town” that have added a strain on residents’ pocketbooks.
Mary Gardner, the assistant attorney general appearing on behalf of ratepayers, stated that Liberty Utilities’ rate increase aims to to generate approximately $55.8 million in revenue. This would lead to an average increase to ratepayers’ bills of 55% per month across southeastern Massachusetts. For North Attleborough residents specifically, the average monthly bill would increase by approximately 78%.
Another part of the proposed increase deals with raising base delivery rates annually over five years, up to 5%.
Liberty’s acquisition of Blackstone Gas Company and relocation of its headquarters were two reasons listed in the Notice of Filing and Public Hearings for the proposed increase. Liberty also seeks to recover an additional $50 million to pay for “previously authorized gas system enhancement,” to be collected over a five-year period.
“If all of this gets approved, then distribution rates are expected to increase significantly – by an estimated additional 35% by the end of the five-year rate plan term, in addition to the May 1, 2026, bill rate increases,” said Gardner. “If the company’s petition is approved, customers will receive a gas rate increase of approximately 90%.”
The hearing was led by hearing officer Elizabeth McNamara, accompanied by DPU Commissioners Staci Rubin and Jeremy McDiarmid. A third commissioner, Elizabeth Anderson, will join in November.
According to Rubin, the commission will take the next several months to examine cost data, cross-examine witnesses and review public comments. A written decision on the matter is expected before May 1, 2026, which is when the proposed rate hike is set to begin.
Public pushback
While only one resident – former Planning Board Chair Marie Clarner – spoke at the in-person hearing at NAHS on Sept. 30, five residents from the town and one from Somerset spoke against the rate increase at the Oct. 7 hearing.
North Attleborough resident Karen Blair-Lamb noted that if a local business raised its prices overnight by more than 50%, she would shop elsewhere. However, Liberty’s monopoly on the gas market in North Attleborough makes that impossible.
Blair-Lamb also questioned the business decisions Liberty has made up until this point, and why ratepayers are responsible for recouping those costs.
“The cost of living in Massachusetts is already one of the highest in the country, and there are already many residents struggling to make amends with those higher costs,” she said.
Julie Gortze, a senior citizen in North Attleborough who lives on a fixed income, cut straight to the point and asked commissioners, “Am I going to have food? What else am I going to have to go without in order to pay that extra money for gas?”
Juli Custodio of Somerset and Jonathan Hopewell of North Attleborough spoke at the end of the meeting with frustrations that residents’ voices are being ignored.
“I know there are thousands opposed to this who cannot attend these types of sessions, or who might not feel comfortable un-muting and speaking up, but are equally challenged by what would be a significant financial burden,” said Hopewell. “I truly hope there are other ways we can capture the dissatisfaction of what Liberty is proposing.”
The deadline for residents to submit written comments has been extended until 5 p.m. on Oct. 15, and can be sent to dpu.efiling@mass.gov, DPU2585.LibertyRateCase@mass.gov, or to Liberty Utilities’ attorneys at Keegan Werlin LLP in Lexington.