A provision buried in H.5151—a bill currently moving through the state legislature—poses a serious threat to competitive energy markets in Massachusetts. While the bill's title promises energy affordability, this particular provision would do exactly the opposite by allowing cities and towns to ban competitive energy suppliers from serving residential customers.

Why should retailers care? Because energy is one of the biggest cost factors facing our members. Every store that keeps its lights on, every restaurant that runs a kitchen, every small business that opens its doors each morning depends on affordable electricity. Many of our members are already struggling with the cost of doing business in Massachusetts. This provision would allow local governments to take a key affordability tool out of the hands of consumers– and businesses could be next.

But it’s not just energy market competition that’s at stake. Once the legislature establishes that municipalities may eliminate a competitive market, the question isn't whether that authority will be used elsewhere—it's when. Free market operations cannot and should not be defined by municipal borders. This creates a dangerous precedent and sends a troubling signal to the entire business community about Massachusetts' commitment to maintaining competition.

RAM members operate in a competitive marketplace every single day. We believe in competition because competition is what keeps prices honest and businesses accountable. Retail choice has been a meaningful tool for keeping energy costs in check for Massachusetts businesses and families alike. Eliminating that choice would be counter-productive to our shared goal of making energy more affordable.

We're not alone in this concern. RAM is working collaboratively with our partners in the business advocacy community to urge legislators to remove this provision from H.5151.

Together, we represent thousands of Massachusetts employers who depend on competitive markets to manage costs and plan for the future.

What we're asking: We urge you to work with RAM to stay engaged and contact your legislators directly. Tell them we must preserve competition and the tools that keep energy costs in check. Together, we can achieve a level playing field within energy markets and preserve affordable options for Massachusetts consumers.