Hingham Prepares for Final Phase of Electricity Rate Increase

Residents of Hingham are set to see the last stage of a planned electricity rate increase take effect in January 2025, marking the culmination of an 18% hike approved by the Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant (HMLP) in 2023. The increase, implemented in three annual phases of approximately 6%, was designed to address rising costs and ensure system reliability.

The decision to raise rates followed a comprehensive review by Utility Financial Services (UFS) in 2023, which revealed the need for additional revenue to cover operational expenses, power costs, and capital obligations. To ease the burden on residents, HMLP opted for a phased approach, spreading the increases over three years.

“The main reason for the set of rate increases that we have had over the last two years and coming up is the Hingham Electrical Infrastructure and Reliability Project,” said Laura Burns, Chair of the Light Board. “This is a very large capital project that is going to increase the quality of the transmission lines that come from the grid to the town. The purpose is to increase reliability, resilience, and also to increase capacity.”  

The Hingham Electrical Infrastructure & Reliability Project (HEIRP) was previously approved by town meeting.

To mitigate the financial impact on households, HMLP offers several support programs. These include an Income-Adjusted Rate, which provides a 15% discount on specific bill components for qualifying customers, and no-cost energy assessments to help residents identify opportunities to save energy and reduce costs.