Lt. Gov. KIm Driscoll defended the executive order signed by Gov. Maura Healey on Monday aimed a providing emergency energy relief for Massachusetts ratepayers by suspending a charge tied to state climate mandates for three months.

Healey declared a state of emergency as she announced her executive order, which will remove the SMART program charge from residential electric bills for a three-month span while cutting the Alternative Portfolio Standard charge by 50% this winter.

While applauded by Healey’s supporters and fellow Democrats, critics, including Massachusetts Republicans and GOP gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue, slammed the move as an “election ploy” by the governor.

Others, like the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, say Healey’s suspension of the SMART program charge is an acknowledgement that state climate policies behind additional charges on utility bills are too expensive.

“Governor Healey is declaring an energy emergency while temporarily reducing charges created by the very energy policies Massachusetts continues to pursue. If these mandates are too expensive for ratepayers during an emergency, policymakers need to ask why they should return when the emergency is over,” said Mass Fiscal Executive Director Paul Craney.

Driscoll defended the executive order on Tuesday following an event in Lowell, pointing to “resources” already available to the administration to make up for the three-month suspension.

“No. We actually have resources to make up for those dollars coming off, those assessments coming off. We know those programs do a lot to support families and communities and we want to keep them going,” Driscoll said, without specifically stating where the funds were coming from.

Driscoll also fended off claims that she and Gov. Healey too often blame President Trump for problems in Massachusetts. From high energy costs and rising gas prices to remarkably high rates of outmigration of businesses and residents, Healey has routinely pointed the finger at Trump.

“Are you kidding me? Have you been to a gas station or a grocery store, all of those things that are up (in price)? That’s directly related to his policies,” Driscoll told the Herald.

Asked if Healey’s blockage of two natural gas pipelines to Massachusetts as attorney general has played any role in increased energy prices, Driscoll declined to answer, only saying “you’re better than that. You know better than that.”

In response to Healey’s Monday announcement, Minogue said he’s “not waiting” to lower bills, also accusing the governor of copying his idea of a gas tax holiday.

“I’ve called for a statewide emergency on heating costs,” Minogue told the Herald. “I’ll cut energy bills by a third by eliminating climate taxes that have nothing to do with how much energy you actually use. I’ll abolish the unfunded, unenforceable Net Zero mandate.”

“I’ll go further,” he added, “I’ll eliminate the gas tax completely.”

The Massachusetts Republican Party is calling Healey’s executive order a “copy cat election ploy.”

“An incumbent copying a challenger, by flip flopping on her own stances, is a sign of desperation. I am proud to see reporters documenting this and holding her accountable,” said MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale.

Healey’s executive order also increases eligibility for the Home Energy Assistance Program, though she did not provide details as to how much the executive order will cost the state or where the funding is coming from.

________

©2026 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at bostonherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.