People In Power

“My Division is tasked with the transition to a clean energy system. It’s specifically as we transition off natural gas. There are challenges. Safety and reliability are paramount. Massachusetts is leading the way on several issues. We don’t often have somebody we can look to for answers.”

“How can I take some of the tragedies and look systemically across the state and say, ‘Where do we have these issues?’ Also how, from the regulator’s perspective, can we build an oversight that balances proactive approaches, utilizes data, so we’re able to get ahead of incidents that claim a lot of lives every year.”

“The 2024 Climate Act charges the Division of Public Participation with assisting stakeholders to navigate prefiling engagement and outreach requirements for Siting Board proceedings. We are working on regulations and guidance to ensure consistency in prefiling outreach requirements across projects.”

“The Legislature amended the Department’s authorizing statute a few years ago to encompass both equity and greenhouse gas emission reductions, in addition to safety, security, reliability, and affordability.”

“Cost to consumers is top of mind for the Commission and the Department. We understand that the high cost of energy is a burden for a lot of folks in Massachusetts, and that’s something we take seriously and are working on.”

“We are considering whether to limit the percentage of people’s income spent on energy bills. We have an energy burden docket considering tiered discount rates or targeting the largest bill discounts to customers most in need, and changes to utility service disconnection practices.”

“The next five years are going to be significant on the gas side as we continue to guide the transition of the industry, and on the electric side as we implement AMI and roll out time-varying rates. We need to do a lot on rate design, affordability, and heat pump rates.”

“I have a deep appreciation and respect for the role that EEI plays in driving consensus and in shaping critical policy and regulatory discussions. Of course, our work extends beyond the policy and regulatory arenas.”

“I approach this role with a sense of humility, understanding that despite seven and a half years as a Commissioner, I still don’t have all the answers. However, my experience on a five-member utility Commission, as a leader of MARC, and as a member of the state legislature has taught me that you don’t accomplish anything single-handedly.”

“The Texas grid is just always changing. I would say, in recent years, it’s getting meaningfully better in a lot of ways. I describe the Texas grid today using a new model that I’m calling ERCOT 4.0. 4.0 is where we are today, with a few significant characteristics. One is significant and accelerating renewable growth on the grid. Intermittent inverter-based resources are the fastest growing in the resource mix on the grid.”