Yep. Every utility has to submit cost increases to the DPU and they approve/deny them. There’s not much the govt can do when literally everything just costs more.

If it turns out that the utilities actually over collected this heating season then we will see price cuts next year.

If there’s and increase of bad debt (people who do not pay their utility bill) then that will also increase rates because the rest of the ratepayers have to pick up the tab.