Mass. utilities to triple efficiency spending

BOSTON — The major electric utilities in Massachusetts will have tripled their annual budget for energy efficiency programs by this time next year from the 2009 levels, according to The Patriot Ledger.

The companies stepped up their “green” spending in response to the state’s legislature passing the “Green Communities Act” in 2008, which outlines new mandates for utilities and establishes an advisory committee to keep tabs on their progress.

In 2009, National Grid spent $118 million on energy efficiency measures, which range from home energy audits to rebates for Energy Star appliances. This year it spent $247 million and that will rise to $315 million next year.

NStar will spend $241 million in 2010, up from $83 million in 2009, The Patriot Ledger said, while noting that the bulk of the costs will be recovered by the utilities through rate increases in the electricity and gas bills.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ranks Massachusetts’ efforts second to those of California, the newspaper said.