MASS.Regulation
Healey declares energy emergency, orders winter heating relief in Executive Order 659
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed Executive Order 659 on October 5, 2026, proclaiming an energy emergency through April 30, 2027. It directs agencies to create a one-time heating-oil benefit for households at 60 to 100% of state median income, supplement HEAP, fund removal of the SMART solar charge for at least three months, cut Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard costs by half and enforce against petroleum price gouging. The governor's office put the package at nearly $150 million.
Text (Mass.gov) → · Cape Cod Times
Key points
- The governor's office says the new benefit pays up to $680 to oil-heat households at 60-100% of state median income, about 50,000 households.Mass.govCape Cod Times
- HEAP gets $15 million more; oil-heat aid rises 20%, utility-heat aid 15%, for about 156,000 households.Mass.gov
- The governor's office says the state will pay $80 million to remove the SMART charge from residential and commercial bills January through March 2027.Mass.gov
- Emergency declaration switches on enforcement against petroleum price gouging by state agencies.Mass.govMass.gov
- The order also directs net-metering and state carbon-program reviews and remains in effect until April 30, 2027.Mass.gov
Sources3 articles across 2 outlets
Mass.gov
Cape Cod Times
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RegulationMass.Massachusetts Executive Order No. 659: Energy Emergency and Winter Heating ReliefEnergyRegulatoryFor practitionersFor governance