Principal Dean Murphy Submits Testimony on Behalf of the Massachusetts Attorney General Recommending Changes to the State’s Gas System Enhancement Plan
Brattle Principal Dr. Dean Murphy recently submitted joint testimony (with David Little, of Bernstein Shur) on behalf of the Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General (AGO) with recommended updates to the state’s Gas System Enhancement Plan (GSEP), which was originally designed to accelerate the replacement of leak-prone gas distribution pipelines to ensure better alignment with the state’s climate policy goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The testimony supported the AGO’s recommendations to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) about how the GSEP should be reformed.
On April 30, 2025, the DPU issued its final Order in the proceeding, adopting most of the Attorney General’s recommendations. The Department’s Order reduces the amount of spending on the GSEP and encourages the six utilities that are part of the group to better prioritize GSEP projects and, where possible, deploy non-pipeline alternatives or repairs instead of traditional (and costly) gas infrastructure replacement projects. Pursuing cost-efficient alternatives will reduce future cost impacts on customers as the Commonwealth works to achieve its climate mandates.
The Attorney General’s full press release can be found here.
