Shea Lawsuit

A lawsuit was filed by eight Massachusetts ratepayers (the so-called "Shea" case) with the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on March 2, 1998, challenging the constitutionality of two separate charges which fund the Renewable Energy Trust and energy efficiency programs.

On April 19, 2000 the SJC unanimously upheld the constitutionality of those portions of the State’s electric industry restructuring legislation (Chapter 164 of the Acts of 1997)
that funded energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.

The legal challenge delayed implementation of the Renewable Energy Trust.