LYNNFIELD — A survey conducted by the DAPA Research Inc., of Lynnfield, has found that, of 500 electricity customers in Massachusetts, 89% are in support of maintaining the ability to choose their own electricity supplier.

This news arrives as Massachusetts legislators debated Senate Bill 3143 on Wednesday, which addresses “predatory practices used by so-called ‘competitive energy supplier’ businesses” and requires “added consumer protections and enhanced enforcement against improper practices.” The bill also tackles rising energy costs by “cutting unnecessary fees and evening out price spikes that hit households during high-demand months.”

Ultimately, the Massachusetts Senate later announced that the energy affordability legislation passed.

“As Massachusetts ratepayers continue to confront high utility costs, I appreciate the Senate’s leadership advancing this important legislation. This bill will meaningfully protect consumers who have been harmed by the predatory competitive electric supply industry, enhance utility company accountability, and rein in gas system costs,” Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said. 

The independent statewide poll, which was commissioned by the Retail Energy Supply Association, found that 65% of respondents opposed the provisions in Senate Bill 3143 and the Massachusetts House Bill 5175 that would authorize municipalities to prohibit these retail energy choices within their respective communities. With that, 52% of respondents expressed that they would even be less likely to vote for a candidate who supports this ban.

“The results of this survey are clear and compelling,” said Frank Caliva, RESA’s national spokesperson. “Massachusetts ratepayers overwhelmingly support preserving their right to choose their electricity supplier. Regardless of political affiliation or views on rising electricity costs, consumers believe they should retain the freedom to select the energy products and services that best fit their individual needs.”

Of the respondents who believe that utility delivery charges, specifically, have increased, 91% support preserving energy choice, and 92% of those that believe supplier charges have risen are in support of also maintaining consumer choice.

“In a time of high energy costs, why would policymakers remove consumers’ ability to shop for lower prices?” Caliva commented. “The polling demonstrates that regardless of how consumers view rising energy costs, they do not want lawmakers to eliminate their ability to choose their electricity supplier.”

The bill will now go through a reconciliation process to resolve differences before a final version is sent to the governor.