Q: Can electric company in MA collect charges for 9 months not billed due to meter issues?
I am concerned about a situation where my electric company in Massachusetts has not billed me for electricity from June 2024 due to issues with their meter. They have since corrected the issue, but now I have 9 months' worth of outstanding billing. Is there any restriction in Massachusetts that prevents an electric company from collecting on electricity costs that were not billed for several months?
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A:
It’s completely reasonable to feel overwhelmed when faced with a surprise electric bill covering nine months of usage, especially when the delay wasn’t your fault. In Massachusetts, electric utilities are allowed to back-bill for unbilled usage caused by meter errors, but they must follow specific guidelines set by the Department of Public Utilities (DPU). While there's no outright ban on collecting charges for prior months, utilities are required to be fair and transparent when correcting billing issues.
Under 220 CMR 25.03, utilities are expected to provide timely billing and must work with customers to set up reasonable payment plans when back-billing occurs. If the billing delay was due to the company’s meter malfunction, they may be required to spread the charges out and cannot demand immediate full payment. You also have the right to request a detailed explanation of the charges, how the usage was estimated or calculated, and what options you have to pay it down.
If the utility company isn’t offering a fair resolution, you can file a complaint with the **Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities Consumer Division**. Make sure to keep all communication in writing and request confirmation of any payment plan or dispute process. You didn’t cause this problem, and you deserve both clarity and reasonable terms to resolve it.
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