{"id":1698,"date":"2026-07-17T15:33:49","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T20:33:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/?p=1698"},"modified":"2026-07-17T15:33:59","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T20:33:59","slug":"ma-senate-votes-to-save-mass-save-and-other-reforms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/ma-senate-votes-to-save-mass-save-and-other-reforms\/","title":{"rendered":"MA Senate Votes to Save MASS Save and Other Reforms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2>Can MA Senate Save Energy Reforms?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"290\" src=\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/energy-reform-MA-senate-300x290.jpg\" alt=\"The MA senate has passed a bill to make home solar more affordable and cut natural gas costs.\" class=\"wp-image-1712\" title=\"Can MA Senate Save Energy Reforms?\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/energy-reform-MA-senate-300x290.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/energy-reform-MA-senate-230x222.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/energy-reform-MA-senate-350x338.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/energy-reform-MA-senate.jpg 456w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption><center><em>The MA senate recently passed an energy reform bill that would make solar and other energy costs more affordable.<\/em><\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s no secret that MA energy bills are rising every year. It seems like more of our money goes towards data center energy demand and the rising cost of natural gas. However, the MA senate passed a bill that could spell big changes to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/ma-electricity-rates-by-city\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Massachusetts electric rates<\/a>. But what&#8217;s in this new energy bill and how can it help make energy more affordable? Let&#8217;s discuss why the <a href=\"https:\/\/pirg.org\/massachusetts\/articles\/senate-passes-energy-bill-making-key-advances-in-solar-and-energy-efficiency\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">MA senate voted<\/a> to save MASS Save and other energy reforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>What&#8217;s In The Senate Bill?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Late in June, the MA senate passed <a href=\"https:\/\/malegislature.gov\/Bills\/194\/S3143\/Amendments\/Senate?pageNumber=1&amp;direction=&amp;sortColumn=AmendmentNumber&amp;keyword=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>S.3143<\/strong><\/a>, &#8220;An Act to save ratepayers money on energy costs.&#8221; The energy bill has several moving parts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, it phases out the wasteful Gas System Enhancement Plan (GSEP). The program started in 2014 as a way for gas utilities to replace or remove leaky natural gas lines. But since then, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gastransitionallies.org\/gsep\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">GSEP program<\/a> and rising delivery charges could end up costing MA gas customers up to $40 billion more when it ends in 2039. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Second, the energy bill adds consumer protections and reins in deceptive practices that have caused energy shoppers to overpay about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/doc\/2026-competitive-supply-report\/download\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">$738 million<\/a> over the last 10 years. It also requires state efficiency standards to help consumers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/resources\/10-quick-energy-saving-tips\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">save energy<\/a> on home appliances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Senate Bill Supports MA Solar Energy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Solar power for your home could massively cut down on your <a href=\"https:\/\/malegislature.gov\/PressRoom\/Detail?pressReleaseId=1432#:~:text=3143%2C%20An%20Act%20to%20save,the%20state%20away%20from%20expensive\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">energy costs<\/a>. However, the upfront costs may not be viable for every family, even if the investment can pay itself off <a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/articles\/will-i-save-money-solar-energy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">within 10 years<\/a>. Fortunately, <strong>S.3143<\/strong> creates a way to finance the initial costs for solar panel or battery storage installation. Part of the process would automate solar permitting to help increase the number of homes with solar. It would also make solar cost savings available for lower-income families. All told, the plan could save around $540 million and help the state shake off natural gas dependency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>How Senate Bill Protects MASS Save<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The bill also works to protect <a href=\"https:\/\/www.masssave.com\/en\/get-started\/get-started-residential?utm_source=google&amp;utm_campaign=Mass-Save_Brand_Residential_24&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_content=Awareness_Residential_Exact&amp;utm_term=mass%20save&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=21026943548&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADsANSTZjKCg9IvAM44ItMTVf2de8&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwmJjSBhB-EiwAkZgxi0aT8UfTmeh-EORvFxu4vuno0depw9vmiyxOpZMns-9DqjPvBgSuWRoC3BkQAvD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">MASS Save<\/a>  from a massive $1 billion budget cut. This is important, because the program has delivered over <a href=\"https:\/\/acadiacenter.org\/work\/buildings-and-transportation\/energy-efficiency\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">$55 billion in benefits<\/a> to MA homes and businesses since 2012. MASS Save did this by helping homes with weatherization projects, purchasing energy-efficient tools and products, and making it easier to install clean energy appliances like electric <a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/heat-pumps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">heat pumps<\/a>. In fact, reports suggest that for every $1 invested in the program, it has provided $3.40 in benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>How Will the MA Senate Bill Affect Rates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The senate passed the bill by a 32 to 8 vote. So now it heads to a committee to iron out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. After that, the bill will be finalized and sent to the Governor for signing. At the moment, it&#8217;s a little early to predict exactly how the bill could affect average monthly energy bills. But, it does show a lot of promise for cheaper and cleaner MA energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the meantime, you can cut your bills by shopping for electricity rates at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com<\/a>. You can also count on us for the news and tips that could affect your bills.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Can MA Senate Save Energy Reforms? It&#8217;s no secret that MA energy [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":1713,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mbp_gutenberg_autopost":false},"categories":[3,20],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>MA Senate Votes to Save MASS Save and Other Reforms - MAER: The Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The MA senate passed a bill to save ratepayers money on energy costs. Find out what the bill changes to cut your electricity rates in MA.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/ma-senate-votes-to-save-mass-save-and-other-reforms\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"MA Senate Votes to Save MASS Save and Other Reforms - MAER: The Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The MA senate passed a bill to save ratepayers money on energy costs. Find out what the bill changes to cut your electricity rates in MA.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/ma-senate-votes-to-save-mass-save-and-other-reforms\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"MAER: The Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-17T20:33:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-17T20:33:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MA-senate-energy-bill.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"724\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"482\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"William Maldonado\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"William Maldonado\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"MAER: The Blog\",\"description\":\"Compare the Best Electricity Rates in Massachusetts\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/ma-senate-votes-to-save-mass-save-and-other-reforms\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/ma-senate-votes-to-save-mass-save-and-other-reforms\/\",\"name\":\"MA Senate Votes to Save MASS Save and Other Reforms - MAER: The Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-17T20:33:49+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-17T20:33:59+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8a7a333343cfb19a3309b54a98b7f42d\"},\"description\":\"The MA senate passed a bill to save ratepayers money on energy costs. Find out what the bill changes to cut your electricity rates in MA.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/ma-senate-votes-to-save-mass-save-and-other-reforms\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/ma-senate-votes-to-save-mass-save-and-other-reforms\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/ma-senate-votes-to-save-mass-save-and-other-reforms\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"MA Senate Votes to Save MASS Save and Other Reforms\"}]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8a7a333343cfb19a3309b54a98b7f42d\",\"name\":\"William Maldonado\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cae7cffd9ea45bc8115ae10b200f57d9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cae7cffd9ea45bc8115ae10b200f57d9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"William Maldonado\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/author\/w_maldonado\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"MA Senate Votes to Save MASS Save and Other Reforms - MAER: The Blog","description":"The MA senate passed a bill to save ratepayers money on energy costs. Find out what the bill changes to cut your electricity rates in MA.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/ma-senate-votes-to-save-mass-save-and-other-reforms\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"MA Senate Votes to Save MASS Save and Other Reforms - MAER: The Blog","og_description":"The MA senate passed a bill to save ratepayers money on energy costs. Find out what the bill changes to cut your electricity rates in MA.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/ma-senate-votes-to-save-mass-save-and-other-reforms\/","og_site_name":"MAER: The Blog","article_published_time":"2026-07-17T20:33:49+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-07-17T20:33:59+00:00","og_image":[{"width":724,"height":482,"url":"http:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MA-senate-energy-bill.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"William Maldonado","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"William Maldonado","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/","name":"MAER: The Blog","description":"Compare the Best Electricity Rates in Massachusetts","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/ma-senate-votes-to-save-mass-save-and-other-reforms\/","url":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/ma-senate-votes-to-save-mass-save-and-other-reforms\/","name":"MA Senate Votes to Save MASS Save and Other Reforms - MAER: The Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-07-17T20:33:49+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-17T20:33:59+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8a7a333343cfb19a3309b54a98b7f42d"},"description":"The MA senate passed a bill to save ratepayers money on energy costs. Find out what the bill changes to cut your electricity rates in MA.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/ma-senate-votes-to-save-mass-save-and-other-reforms\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/ma-senate-votes-to-save-mass-save-and-other-reforms\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/ma-senate-votes-to-save-mass-save-and-other-reforms\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"MA Senate Votes to Save MASS Save and Other Reforms"}]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8a7a333343cfb19a3309b54a98b7f42d","name":"William Maldonado","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cae7cffd9ea45bc8115ae10b200f57d9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cae7cffd9ea45bc8115ae10b200f57d9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"William Maldonado"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com"],"url":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/author\/w_maldonado\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1698"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1698"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1698\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1716,"href":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1698\/revisions\/1716"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1698"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1698"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.maenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1698"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}