Massachusetts Governor declares energy emergency amid rising costs

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has declared a state of energy emergency to address rising utility costs ahead of winter. The administration announced nearly $150 million in measures designed to alleviate heating and electricity bills.

Key initiatives include providing new assistance to approximately 50,000 middle-class households using heating oil, strengthening benefits for 156,000 low-income homes, and temporarily reducing certain electricity charges. Healey noted that heating oil prices have increased by 73% over the past year, reaching an average of $6.08 per gallon. She attributed these rising costs in part to the war in Iran.

Republican challenger Mike Minogue criticized the announcement as a “last-minute” political move, instead proposing to eliminate climate taxes and the state's Net Zero mandate to lower bills. Healey has also requested $3 billion in additional federal emergency funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.