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Lawmakers hear proposal to study public ownership of electricity, citing cost and accountability concerns
Summary
Representative Conley asked the committee to establish a task force to investigate publicly owned models for electric and natural‑gas utilities, including looking at Nebraska’s NeighborFirst and the New York Power Authority, as a response to high costs, the transition to renewables, and investor‑owned utilities’ role.
Representative Conley urged the Joint Committee to support a bill that would create a task force to examine whether Massachusetts should consider public ownership models for electric and natural‑gas utilities.
"This bill would simply establish a task force that could consider the possibility of transitioning from a system of investor‑owned utilities in Massachusetts to a system of public ownership," Rep. Conley told the committee while testifying in favor of House 3466. He said the task force would include legislative chairs, the attorney general, labor leaders, environmental advocates, and other stakeholders and would examine models such as Nebraska’s NeighborFirst and the New York Power Authority.
Conley framed the proposal as a response to a recent cost crisis affecting constituents and the state’s clean‑energy transition, saying the committee should consider options that balance cost control, renewable integration, and existing investor profits. "While I acknowledge the vision of this bill is bold, I also think there could be some value in simply having this conversation," he said, adding that signaling alternatives could prompt greater accountability from large investor‑owned corporations.
He thanked committee chairs for earlier briefings with the Department of Public Utilities on cost containment and asked colleagues who had cosponsored the measure to continue their support. No committee action was taken during the hearing.
