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HD 1807

An Act advancing water access equity through utility reporting requirement

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Tommy Vitolo

Requires quarterly ZIP code disaggregated reports from public and private water utilities on service, disconnections, charges, and aid to boost equity and guide policy.

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Bill Summary · HD 1807

Summary: HD 1807 — An Act advancing water access equity through utility reporting requirement

What the bill aims to do

HD 1807 proposes to improve equity in water access by mandating quarterly reporting from public and private water utilities on customer service and affordability metrics. The data would be collected and published to inform oversight, policy decisions, and targeted efforts to address disparities in water service access and affordability.

Key provisions

  • Amendments to law: Adds new reporting subsection (f) to Section 22 of Chapter 25, General Laws.
  • Reporting entity: Requires both public and private water utilities to file quarterly reports with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA).
  • Public access: Reports would be public records and disaggregated by ZIP code.
  • Content of reports: Utilities must include, at minimum, the following data, with 11 specific items (see below).
  • Regulatory authority: EEA may adopt regulations to implement the reporting requirements.
  • Legislative oversight: EEA must annually report to the Senate and House committees on Ways and Means and the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture with data from the equity audit reports.
  • Effective date: The act states an effective date of January 1, 2024, though the bill text is associated with the 2025-2026 session in the provided material.

Data elements required (disaggregated by ZIP code)

  1. Number of customers receiving service from the utility.
  2. Number of customer disconnection notices issued for nonpayment.
  3. Number and dates of water shutoffs, and the average time between disconnection and reconnection.
  4. Number of accounts eligible for disconnection due to nonpayment but not disconnected due to legally mandated or pandemic-related suspensions.
  5. Amounts charged for late fees, penalties, reconnection fees, interest, and other late-payment charges.
  6. Number of liens placed on real property for nonpayment, and actions taken (sale or enforcement).
  7. Number of customers enrolled in deferred payment agreements at month-end and average repayment term length.
  8. Number of customers entering, completing, or defaulting on deferred payment agreements.
  9. Customer assistance programs available, including eligibility terms and budget for each program.
  10. For each program: number of customers served at month-end, total dollar amount of assistance, and number denied assistance.
  11. Methods and contents of communications to customers about rights and available assistance programs if bills cannot be paid in full.

Who is affected

  • Public water utilities and private water utilities operating in Massachusetts.
  • The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), which would collect, regulate, and report on the data.
  • Massachusetts legislative committees (Senate and House) that oversee Ways and Means and Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.
  • Water customers, particularly those experiencing disconnections, late fees, and affordability challenges, who would be represented in the publicly available disaggregated data and in the design of assistance programs.

Oversight, regulation, and reporting timeline

  • Regulatory framework: EEA may promulgate regulations to implement the reporting requirements.
  • Annual legislative reporting: EEA must, by March 15 each year, provide a data-focused equity audit report to the relevant Senate and House committees.
  • Quarterly reporting cadence: Utilities would file quarterly reports with EEA, which would be public records.
  • Orientation of data: Data would be disaggregated by ZIP code to illuminate geographic disparities in service and affordability.

Background and context notes

  • The bill references a similar matter filed in a prior session (House No. 922 of 2023-2024), indicating continued legislative interest in utility reporting and water access equity.
  • The stated effective date appears to precede the introduced date in the surrounding summary, suggesting potential drafting or transitional issues to be resolved through legislative process.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Transparency and accountability: Public, disaggregated data could highlight inequities in service access and affordability, enabling targeted policy responses.
  • Utility burden: Quarterly reporting and data management may impose administrative costs on utilities; regulations would need to balance data needs with practicability.
  • Privacy and data use: While data would be public, ZIP-code granularity should be considered alongside privacy implications and the risk of stigmatizing particular communities.
  • Policy implications: Results from annual equity audits could guide budget allocations, rate design, and consumer assistance programs.

This summary provides an objective overview of HD 1807’s proposed approach to advancing water access equity through enhanced utility reporting.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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