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S 2255

Requires the MTA and the New York city transit authority to implement certain standards pertaining to applying and removing coatings from bridges, trestles, elevated subway and railway tracks and stations

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Leroy Comrie and 1 co-sponsor

Prohibits any third-party supplier, energy marketer, or broker from contracting or renewing residential generation services after Jan 1, 2026 to protect ratepayers.

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
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Bill Summary · S 2255

Summary — S.2255 (Massachusetts): "An Act relative to electric ratepayer protections"

Status: Filed in the Massachusetts Senate (Senate Docket No. 1545). Bill text filed 01/16/2025. Passed Senate 03/11/2025; delivered to the House/Assembly and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions. (See note on inconsistent metadata below.)

Purpose

To protect residential electric customers by prohibiting third‑party suppliers, energy marketers, and energy brokers from entering into or renewing retail generation service contracts with individual residential customers beginning January 1, 2026. The intent is to curb potentially deceptive third‑party contracting practices and strengthen consumer protections for electric ratepayers.

Key provisions

  • Amends Chapter 164 of the Massachusetts General Laws by inserting a new Section 1L (to follow section 1K).
  • Prohibition: On or after January 1, 2026, no supplier, energy marketer, or energy broker may execute a new contract or renew an existing contract for generation services with any individual residential retail customer.
  • Exceptions:
    • Does not apply to government bodies acting under municipal aggregation (section 134) that aggregate residential load.
    • Does not apply to entities organizing/administrating programs under section 137.
  • Enforcement and remedies:
    • A violation is deemed an unfair and deceptive act under Chapter 93A.
    • The Attorney General may bring actions under section 4 of Chapter 93A to obtain restitution, civil penalties, injunctive relief, or any other relief available under Chapter 93A.

Who is affected

  • Prohibited from contracting/renewing: competitive electric suppliers, energy marketers, and energy brokers offering generation services.
  • Protected/impacted customers: individual residential retail electric customers (those who would otherwise be eligible to sign third‑party generation contracts).
  • Exempt entities: municipal aggregators and entities operating programs under section 137.
  • Enforcement actor: Massachusetts Attorney General.

Procedural / timeline highlights

  • Effective prohibition date in the bill: January 1, 2026 (applies to contracts executed or renewed on/after that date).
  • Legislative actions provided show the bill passed the Senate (03/11/2025) and was delivered to the House/Assembly and referred to a House committee for further consideration. A hearing was scheduled (06/04/2025 per provided materials).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Consumer protection: Aims to reduce deceptive sales and marketing by third‑party suppliers.
  • Market effects: Would curtail retail choice by blocking new or renewed third‑party generation contracts for residential customers, potentially increasing reliance on default utility supply or municipal aggregation arrangements. Impacts on rates and competition would depend on how default and aggregated supplies compare to existing third‑party offers.
  • Legal enforcement via Chapter 93A could result in civil penalties and restitution for harmed consumers.

Note on inconsistencies

The provided materials include mixed or conflicting metadata (committee names, sponsor lists including federal legislators, and duplicate/overlapping action dates). This summary is based on the bill text filed in the Massachusetts Senate (S.2255 / Senate Docket No.1545, 01/16/2025). For legislative status and sponsor confirmation, consult the official Massachusetts Legislature website or the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s docket.

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

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