The Energy Consumer's Bulletin- a New England energy news blog

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What is Massachusetts Doing About Data Centers?

Data centers use a lot of power. So much power, in fact, that new data center load has increased electricity prices in PJM (a regional power grid...

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Energy efficiency (2)

Electricity and the grid Energy efficiency Our programs Climate change

Summer is Coming. Time to Shave the Peak!

As summer approaches, thousands of our followers prepare to “Shave the Peak.”  

Subscribers to our Shave the Peak program will receive text and email alerts about how and when to reduce power use on days when electricity demand is significantly higher than usual. As we begin to see temperatures rise above 90°F this summer,more people will turn on their air conditioners to stay cool. This increased electricity demand leads to the grid operator having to call on more expensive and polluting power sources such as oil- and gas-fired “peaker plants". These fossil-fuel-powered peaker plants contribute only a fraction of our electricity over the course of the year (about 2-7%) but have an enormous impact on energy prices and air pollution.

Picture of Becca Miller Becca Miller 
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Picture of Amanda Barker Amanda Barker
Massachusetts Electricity and the grid Energy efficiency Climate change

How Massachusetts Residents Can Get Paid to Help Lower Peak Energy Demand

This blog refers specifically to the ConnectedSolutions program offered by Massachusetts utilities Eversource and National Grid. Program eligibility, incentives, and participating utilities vary by state and utility territory. Other utilities in New England, including Rhode Island Energy, may offer ConnectedSolutions programs with different requirements and benefits.

Blog Audio: Get Paid to Help Lower Peak Energy Demand
5:50

If you live inEversourceorNational Grid territory, your utility will reward you for helping to shave peak energy demand! When energy consumption is highest—typically during the hottest days of the year— it puts more demand on the electric grid. Hot weather is a major driver of peak demand, as more people turn on their air conditioning to stay cool when temperatures rise.

Picture of Ayumi Fong Ayumi Fong
Renewable energy Energy policy & advocacy Energy efficiency Rhode Island Climate change Phasing out fossil fuels Action Alert

Budget & Benchmarking: Where Rhode Island Stands As Session Nears End

This 2026 Rhode Island legislative session will likely wrap up on June 12th. The House amended budget was released last Friday, and both chambers are working to pass it quickly. We have been tracking two important pieces of legislation all session: The Fiscal Year 2027 Budget and building decarbonization legislation. Both are critical for the state to maintain and potentially hasten our current trajectory of emissions reductions to meet the mandates in the Act on Climate.

Picture of Tina Munter Tina Munter
Electricity and the grid Energy efficiency Heating Phasing out fossil fuels

Natural Gas-Fired Power Is Not Getting Any Cheaper

Retail electricity prices keep rising everywhere, causing pocketbook anxiety among consumers and political anxiety among elected officials. Some of our public servants suggest cutting back on clean energy commitments to make energy affordable. They are obviously being egged on by disinformation campaigns run by the fossil fuel industry. Nonetheless, it is becoming increasingly clear that New England’s overdependence upon natural gas for heat and electricity is one of the main energy cost drivers (along with overspending on utility infrastructure and their profits).

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien
Renewable energy Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Electricity and the grid Energy efficiency Heating Climate change Phasing out fossil fuels Action Alert

Newest Energy Bill Out In Massachusetts: Call Your Rep!

The House Ways and Means Committee has just put out a new version of their energy bill, H.5151, which is expected to be voted on by the full House this Thursday. This bill, while a massive improvement over what left the House Telecommunications Utility and Energy Committee in November, is still a mixed bag. Though it removes many of the previous bill’s worst provisions and improves consumer protections for electricity customers, it would still impose draconian cuts on the Mass Save program. Yet again, we need you to take action by calling your representative!

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien 
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Picture of Carrie Katan Carrie Katan
Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Energy efficiency Climate change Action Alert

Don't Look Up: The Environmental Consequences of Mass. House of Representatives' Energy Bill

The Massachusetts House of Representatives is moving forward once again with an energy bill that could impact affordability and climate progress for years to come. The House Ways and Means Committee is working on a new draft, picking up where the Energy Committee left off in November with House Bill 4744, a truly awful piece of legislation. We believe that Ways and Means will come out with a new version by the second week of February.

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien
Renewable energy Energy efficiency Heating Phasing out fossil fuels

Heat Pump Water Heaters: Essential For Climate Action & Now Cost Competitive

In the fight against climate change, figuring out efficient and clean ways to heat water for showers, laundry, and dishwashing is a crucial part of reducing emissions. For the average New England household, domestic water heating accounts for 17% of the home’s annual energy usage. Replacing water heaters is also one of the most frequent and costly maintenance tasks that many property owners and landlords must face. Most hot water storage tanks last about 10 years, meaning that property owners might replace their water heating systems two or three times more frequently than their furnaces or boilers. This makes water heater conversions an important opportunity for cutting our region’s carbon footprint. 

Picture of Loie Hayes Loie Hayes