In enforcing new climate law, a dispute over the ‘obligation to serve’ natural gas customers - CommonWealth Beacon

In enforcing new climate law, a dispute over the ‘obligation to serve’ natural gas customers - CommonWealth Beacon

FOR DECADES, NATURAL gas utilities in Massachusetts have been required, except in limited circumstances, to provide service to any customer within their service territory who requests it. This so-called “obligation to serve” is now at the center of a high-stakes dispute as the state works to transition away from natural gas for heating, cooking, and powering appliances as part of its climate goals.   Achieving the state’s ambitious decarbonizati…