Comments of the Massachusetts Community Action Directors Association, Inc. (MASSCAP) re: Competitive Market Issues

· Low-income families need immediate relief from rising prices, including greater outreach efforts with respect to the low-income discount rate as well as expanded discounts and protections such as shut-off moratoria. · Various proposals that do not address the wholesale electricity market failure will not repair that failure. Such proposals include bidding out default service provision and artificially raising retail prices. · The Department has powerful tools at its disposal to address the wholesale market failure. These include its oversight of default service purchasing, its ability to require utilities to build plant if that is the most prudent option, and its oversight of demand-side management and demand response programs.