State Representative Frank A. Morán Re-Files Legislation to Protect Electric Ratepayers from Predatory Sales Practices 

State Representative Frank A. Morán Re-Files Legislation to Protect Electric Ratepayers from Predatory Sales Practices

BOSTON – State Representative Frank A. Morán (D – Lawrence) filed legislation in the House of Representatives to protect consumers from predatory sales practices conducted by competitive electric supply companies in Massachusetts.

 

Recent reports, conducted by then-Attorney General Maura Healey, have highlighted the urgent need for the passage of this legislation.

 

The findings of one of the office’s most recent reports, show that residents who enroll in contracts with these electric supply companies continue to overpay for electricity by tens of millions of dollars each year – with approximately 450,000 individual residential customers losing $173 million in the past two years as a result of such sales tactics.

 

The attorney general’s report, the third of such conducted within the competitive electric supply industry, has shown that this issue continues to worsen without regulatory oversight from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In fact, this issue has continued to be exacerbated within low-income communities and communities of color – such as the City of Lawrence.

 

“The competitive supply industry in Massachusetts has been able to take advantage of our most vulnerable residents for far too long,” said Representative Morán. “My hometown of Lawrence has been one of the most adversely impacted communities as a result of these predatory and discriminatory sale practices. The findings of this report show the urgent need for the passage of this legislation to provide much needed financial protections and relief to consumers who have unjustly been taken advantage of.”

 

Representative Morán has been at the forefront of this issue for many years and has refiled An Act relative to ratepayer protections – with the endorsements of Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and Mayor Michelle Wu.

 

“Competitive electric suppliers are draining millions of dollars from vulnerable families across Massachusetts with their false promises of savings,” said Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell. “My office will continue to prioritize investigating these companies and their predatory practices, but investigations are not enough, which is why we look forward to working with Representative Morán and Senator Crighton to pass legislation to stop competitive suppliers before they scam our residents.”

 

“Many Boston residents are having to make difficult financial choices between paying for food, fuel, rent, or electricity,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Competitive electric suppliers use predatory tactics to mislead residents into joining their programs and cost residents valuable money. I’d like to thank Representative Morán for sponsoring this legislation and would like to encourage all Boston residents to sign up for Boston’s Community Choice Electricity to save money and choose a greener future for our communities.”

 

A legislative hearing will be held for this bill in the coming months.