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H 5175

An Act relative to energy affordability, clean power and economic competitiveness

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Shirley Arriaga and 39 co-sponsors

Relief and long-term savings are accelerated by expanding clean energy procurement, improving price transparency, and strengthening protections for ratepayers across electricity, g

Passed to be engrossed -- see Roll Call #205 (Yeas 32 to Nays 8)
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Bill Summary · H 5175

Overview

  • Bill: H.5175 (194th MA General Court)
  • Title: An Act relative to energy affordability, clean power and economic competitiveness (emergency measure)
  • Purpose: To reduce energy costs for residents, accelerate clean energy deployment, strengthen ratepayer protections, and enhance Massachusetts’ energy economy and governance. The act creates new programs, regulatory duties, procurement mechanisms, and consumer protections across electricity, gas, solar, offshore wind, energy storage, and related markets.

Main purpose and intent

  • Provide immediate relief and long-term affordability for energy customers.
  • Expand of clean energy procurement, storage, solar, offshore wind, and related infrastructure.
  • Increase transparency and public understanding of energy costs and programs.
  • Strengthen workforce and local economic benefits, equity, and local development in energy projects.
  • Consolidate and streamline procurement, siting, permitting, and program administration under the Commonwealth.

Key provisions and changes

  • Real-time Dashboard (Section 1)

    • Create a live online dashboard showing current and historical rate components for residential gas and electric customers.
    • Visualizations and explanations of bill components; machine-readable data.
    • Include analysis of benefits from clean energy, energy efficiency, demand response, and other programs.

  • Electrical/Gas Market Structure and Procurement (Sections 4, 5, 22-23)

    • Reorganize certain divisions within the Department of Energy Resources and the Department of Public Utilities to emphasize clean energy procurement (Section 4).
    • Create a Division of Clean Energy Procurement to manage solicitations, procurements, and contracts; retain a Division of Clean Energy Siting and Permitting for local permitting standards (Sections 4-5).
    • Enhanced reporting requirements for electric and gas companies, including rate data, customer counts, load, and contract offerings (Section 6).

  • Ratepayer Allocation and Credits (Sections 7-8)

    • Ensure at least 70% of certain alternative compliance payments are returned to ratepayers.
    • Establish per-kWh credits and bill reductions within 90 days of compliance year end.
    • Minimize administrative costs; regulations to implement credits.

  • Alternative Energy Credits (Section 9)

    • Tighten eligibility for alternative energy generating sources: pre-2028 qualification preserved; new applications after 2028 not accepted.

  • Building and Energy Codes (Sections 5, 11A)

    • Require development of a municipal opt-in specialized stretch energy code, including net-zero standards, aligned with greenhouse gas limits.
    • Create parameters for siting, zoning, and permitting of small clean energy facilities; support procurement and storage integration.

  • Offshore Wind Pre-Development and Acceleration (Section 24)

    • Establish a state offshore wind pre-development and project acceleration program.
    • Allow state/co-investment with developers for pre-development activities to speed projects and improve price transparency.
    • Use a central procurement fund to support long-term contracts and recover Commonwealth investments at commercial operation.

  • Solar Incentives and Permitting (Sections 12, 25-26)

    • Create statewide solar incentive program with market-based, cost-conscious design; include differentiated incentives (community solar, low-income, municipal projects).
    • Establish a state smart solar permitting platform to streamline residential solar permit reviews (code compliance checks, rapid permitting, electronic signatures).
    • Municipal compliance reporting if a jurisdiction uses alternative automated permitting.

  • Solar and DER Market Governance (Sections 22-23, 1L-1M)

    • License, bond, and conduct requirements for energy marketers, brokers, and other DER participants.
    • Strengthen penalties and enforcement for violations; expand department oversight and reporting.
    • Create comprehensive consumer-facing portal to compare retail electricity products and ensure accessible information on rates, terms, and environmental attributes.
    • Expand definitions and governance for distributed energy resource providers, community solar, and related markets.

  • Transmission and Infrastructure (Sections 15)

    • Allow the Department of Transportation to permit high-voltage transmission lines along state highways with safety controls; require corridor analyses and detailed construction reports.

  • Workforce and Equity Provisions (Various)

    • Procurement solicitations require evidence of workforce development, apprenticeship participation, diversity and inclusion, and community benefits for low-income and environmental justice populations.
    • Potential wage bonds and insurance requirements to ensure project labor standards.

  • Local Authorities and Consumer Protections (Sections 14, 16)

    • Allow communities to regulate certain contracts with energy marketers; enforce wages and labor standards on thermal energy networks.

Who would be affected

  • Residential, commercial, governmental, and industrial electricity customers via rate credits, simplified solar permitting, and clearer pricing information.
  • Electric and gas distribution companies, suppliers, marketers, brokers, and aggregators (tied to reporting, licensing, bonds, and procurement activities).
  • Local governments and municipalities (stretch energy code opt-in, permitting platform adoption, and local energy projects).
  • Offshore wind developers, solar developers, and distributed energy resource providers (via solicitations, long-term contracts, and project eligibility rules).
  • Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, Department of Energy Resources, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Attorney General, and other state agencies involved in procurement, permitting, and enforcement.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • The act is framed as an emergency measure to take effect immediately to preserve public convenience.
  • Resource solicitation plans include offshore wind procurements totaling at least 10 GW by 2040 and solar procurements totaling around 10 GW by 2040 (Section 22).
  • Long-term contracts require DPU approval, with a 90-day review window for proposed contracts (Section 22).
  • Resource solicitation plan must be filed with the DPU and is subject to its approval/modification/rejection within 7 months of submission (Section 22).
  • Offshore wind pre-development program funding may come from central procurement fund, appropriations, or federal/private sources (Section 24).
  • The solar permitting platform and accountability measures require annual and quarterly reporting to the department and public disclosure (Section 25-26).

Note: This summary focuses on the substantive provisions and their intended impacts, based on the bill text provided.

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

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