An Act to ensure notice to abutter communities of applications to the department of public utilities

This bill requires applicants seeking permits from the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities to notify nearby communities about their projects. Specifically, applicants must email local government officials within 30 days of filing, while the department must send written notices to officials within 60 days, including details on public hearings. The law also mandates that applicants appear at public hearings if requested by local governments, and failure to do so could result in granting intervenor status to previously excluded entities. These changes directly affect utility project developers and the local towns and cities where projects are proposed.