By: Methuen Mayor D.J. Beauregard – 7/25
The cost of living is out of control, and it seems like most people in government are more interested in scoring political points than fixing it.
Electric bills keep going up. So do grocery prices and medical costs. Meanwhile, politicians are busy playing partisan games and debating fringe issues that have nothing to do with the day-to-day struggles of working families.
People aren’t asking for the moon. They’re asking not to get ripped off every time they open a bill or fill a prescription. And when that becomes too much to ask, local government needs to step in. We can’t fix everything, but when we see people getting taken advantage of, I believe we have a responsibility to act.
Here’s how we’re trying to do that in Methuen.
Beating the Utility Rate Hikes
Let’s start with a new development I’m announcing here first: National Grid has just submitted its proposed electric supply rates to the Department of Public Utilities for the August 2025 through January 2026 period. If approved, the Basic Service rate will jump to 15.484 cents per kilowatt-hour – up 5.5% from the current 14.672 cents. That’s a big hit to the average household.
Here’s the good news, but it’s only for people who live in Methuen: residents enrolled in our Community Choice Power Supply Program won’t pay anywhere near that. Our locked-in rate of 12.830 cents per kilowatt-hour is guaranteed through December 2027, which means participating households will save real money on the supply side of their electric bill.
It’s a smart way to keep people from getting gouged. The goal is to use the city’s collective buying power to keep more of your money in your pocket. And it’s proof that local government can act strategically to shield residents from the worst of the market’s volatility.
Fighting Back Against Predatory Electric Suppliers
We’re not just helping residents avoid rate hikes. We’re also fighting back against third-party electric suppliers who make slick promises and hide the fine print. These companies push people out of stable, city-backed programs like ours – and into overpriced contracts. According to state regulators, Massachusetts residents have lost hundreds of millions of dollars to these predatory electric suppliers since 2015. They use aggressive marketing and deceptive tactics, and the people who end up paying the price are often seniors and lower-income families.
That’s why I joined 13 other mayors and city managers calling for a statewide ban on these suppliers by endorsing the Campaign to Stop Predatory Electric Suppliers, a growing statewide coalition backed by more than 50 consumer advocacy organizations. Until that ban happens, we’ll keep educating residents and offering safer, more stable alternatives.
Joining the National Fight Against Insulin Price Gouging
The energy sector isn’t the only place where people are getting squeezed. Prescription drug prices – especially for essential medications like insulin – have skyrocketed. Despite costing just a few dollars to produce, insulin is priced far higher due to a broken system of manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers inflating the cost. That’s not just wrong – it’s dangerous.
Methuen recently joined a national lawsuit targeting the drug manufacturers and intermediaries accused of rigging the system. This is a life-sustaining medication, and the current pricing model puts vulnerable people at risk. If the federal government won’t hold these companies accountable, local governments need to be part of that fight.
Why These Issues Matter
Residents aren’t asking for miracles. They just want a fair shake. They want to turn on the lights without worrying how much it’s going to cost. They want life-saving medication to be affordable. They want their elected officials to focus on the issues that hit them hardest – not on ideological distractions or performative politics. They want a local government that has their back.
That’s what drives me every day as your mayor. Because protecting residents from getting screwed isn’t just good policy – it’s our responsibility. Here in Methuen, we’re not waiting for someone else to figure it out. Our residents can’t afford that approach.
D.J. Beauregard is the Mayor of Methuen. Contact him at djbeauregardma@gmail.com ◊