Information on this page is for customers in 

{{ town-name }}

Political Activity Policy

The formulation and enactment of public policy can have a profound effect on Eversource and its stakeholders.

As such, Eversource believes it has a responsibility to its shareholders, customers, employees and the communities we serve (stakeholders) to participate in the political process where appropriate and legally permissible.

We do not use corporate funds to contribute to political parties or candidates. This prohibition includes independent political expenditures made in direct support of, or in opposition to, a campaign, and also includes payments made to influence the outcome of ballot measures. We do participate in a number of ways, including making contributions to various organizations, lobbying elected and appointed officials, through membership in trade associations and related organizations, and by administering political action committees.

Eversource has decision-making, governance and oversight processes in place to ensure such contributions and expenditures are legally permissible and in the best interests of Eversource and its stakeholders.

Corporate and Employee Political Participation – Overview

As noted above, Eversource does not contribute corporate funds to federal, state or local political candidates, ballot measures, or individual campaigns or political parties. We do, from time to time, make contributions to organizations in support of initiatives that promote the interests of Eversource and its stakeholders. It is the intent of this policy to dedicate the majority of its contributions and dues to trade associations devoted to the advancement of a sound energy policy that advances the interests of utility customers’, shareholders and employees and in particular to clean energy and ESG considerations. We also contribute and pay dues to a small number of national and state governors’ associations and state and local economic and community organizations, with whom we partner in the advancement of the interests of the communities where we provide service.

All contribution decisions are based on advancing these interests, and not on the personal preferences of our executives or any other persons or interests. Each of the states in which we operate has different laws, rules and regulations governing political expenditures.

Any expenditures made by Eversource are made in accordance with and subject to all limitations and conditions of those laws, rules and regulations. Contributions and dues payments are reviewed by the Company’s Legal Department and/or Chief Compliance Officer, coordinated with internal legislative and community affairs managers, and are subject to the approval of one or both of the Authorized Officers noted below. We also support the individual rights of Eversource employees to participate in the political process; however, we do not reimburse employees for any political contributions.

Industry Groups, Trade Associations and Related Organizations

In certain circumstances where permitted by law and with the approval of our Executive Vice President and General Counsel or Executive Vice President-Corporate Relations and Sustainability and Secretary (Authorized Officers), Eversource may use corporate funds for the payment of dues and/or other expenditures to tax exempt organizations that may engage in political activities or organizations and trade associations that may use a portion of such dues and expenditures for political and lobbying activities. These are commonly referred to as 501c3, 501c6 and 527 organizations. However, we do not contribute or otherwise participate in organizations whose primary purpose is political activity in support or opposition of specific candidates or legislation.

Corporate Political Participation – Process and Criteria

Any request for a contribution or other expenditure to be made by Eversource to a political organization or membership in a trade association, including any expenditure for a non-candidate state or local ballot initiative, is required to be submitted to the Authorized Officers for review and approval.

The Authorized Officers will review the request to confirm that the proposed contribution or expenditure is in the best interests of Eversource and its stakeholders and that any requested contribution or expenditure complies with all applicable laws, rules and regulations and this policy.

The Authorized Officers will cause Eversource to keep accurate records of such contributions or expenditures and take actions to ensure that all required disclosures to government entities are complete and accurate.

Lobbying Reports

Eversource Energy and its lobbyists file reports with the U.S. Congress on a regular basis disclosing information about their lobbying activities. These reports are available for review on the websites of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, as noted below.

Eversource maintains and files Lobbying Disclosure Act Registration and Reports (Form LD-2) with the U.S. Congress. These reports detail the particular bills and issues on which individual lobbyists engaged, as well as the total lobbying expenses incurred.

Eversource and its registered federal lobbyists also file semi-annual reports detailing, among other things, disbursements and personal and/or direct contributions to federal candidates. These forms (LD-203) may be found on the U.S. Senate website.

Eversource also files lobbyist reports in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and any lobbyists that the Company works with in New Hampshire also file individual reports that identify their clients. Links to the reports are available below.

Reports to the Eversource Board of Trustees

The Authorized Officers shall report on political activities and expenditures at least annually to the Eversource Governance, Environmental and Social Responsibility Committee, which reviews and oversees the Company’s political activity and this policy.

A written report of dues paid and expenditures made to political organizations, trade associations and the portion of such dues paid and expenditures made to politically active organizations whose purpose is to promote social welfare that relate to political activities, together with a copy of the Company’s filed lobbyists reports, shall be provided to the Committee and to the full Board of Trustees, and a summary of the report disclosing all such dues paid and expenditures made shall be posted on the Company’s website along with this policy.

Eversource Energy 2015-2023 Political Activity Report

The following tables reflect political activity and contributions made by Eversource from 2015 to 2023:

OrganizationYearAmountClassification
Democratic Governors Association2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
$100,000
$110,000
$100,000
$100,000
$50,000
527
Republican Governors Association2017
2018
2019
$100,000
$25,000
$50,000
527
Coalition of Northeastern Governors2018$15,000501(c)(3)
Connecticut Governor’s Ball2019$25,000N/A
Council of State Governments2017$5,000501(c)(3)
Utilities State Government Organization2017
2018
2019
$1,000
$2,000
$2,000
501(c)(6)

2015 - 2023 Trade Association Participation

Eversource is involved in the industry groups listed below. Listed below is the non-deductible portion of payments made to trade associations that were used for lobbying or other political activities:

OrganizationYearAmountClassification
A Better City2015$1,750501(c)(3)
Affiliated Chamber of Commerce of Greater Springfield2015$320501(c)(6)
American Benefits Council2016$1,609501(c)(6)
American Gas Association2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
$15,087
$16,579
$24,994
$10,668
$15,069
$27,695
$27,695
501(c)(3)
Associated Industries of Massachusetts2015
2016
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
$3,200
$3,200
$4,000
$4,000
$3,106
$3,494
$2,050
$3,494
501(c)(6)
Better Business Bureau2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
$20
$21
$23
$23
$24
501(c)(6)
Bristol Chamber of Commerce2015$44501(c)(6)
Business Council of Fairfield2016
2017
2018
2019
$3,130
$2,500
$2,580
$2,580
501(c)(6)
Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
$4,788
$4,788
$4,788
$4,180
$4,626
$4,915
$4,915
$4,915
$4,915
501(c)(6)
Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce2023$81 
Central Connecticut Chamber - Bristol2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
$44
$44
$44
$44
$44
$0
$44
501(c)(6)
Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT2023$1,250 
Cheshire Chamber of Commerce2016$44501(c)(6)
Connecticut Business and Industry Association2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2022
2023
$8,000
$15,075
$16,425
$14,600
$7,700
$7,400
$6,300
$6,750
501(c)(6)
Edison Electric Institute2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
$135,033
$134,939
$140,719
$139,620
$136,375
$144,098
$144,098
$132,856
$137,539
501(c)(6)
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce2018
2019
2020
$3,100
$3,100
$3,100
501(c)(6)
Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce2015$120
501(c)(6)
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
$1,003
$1,003
$1,003
$1,003
$1,003
$1,005
$1,005
$1,005
$1,005
501(c)(6)
Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
$280
$275
$275
$280
$275
$275
$275
$275
$275
501(c)(6)
Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce2016
2017
2018
$94
$94
$95
501(c)(6)
Massachusetts Competitive Partnership2015$75,000501(c)(4)
Massachusetts Roundtable2020
2022
2023
$948
$948
$948
501(c)(6)
Metro Hartford Alliance2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
$4,125
$4,125
$2,063
$1,375
$1,375
$1,375
$1,375
$1,375
501(c)(6)
Metrowest Chamber of Commerce2015
2016
2017
2018
2021
2022
2023
$102
$110
$110
$100
$110
$110
$110
501(c)(3)
Middlesex Chamber of Commerce2018
2019
2020
2021
$54
$56
$58
$98
501(c)(6)
New Britain Chamber of Commerce2020
2021
$263
$263
501(c)(6)
New England Council2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
$2,580
$660
$660
$630
$630
$630
$630
$525
$540
501(c)(6)
Northeast Clean Energy Council2020
2022
2023
$2,000
$2,000
$2,000
501(c)(6)
Northwest Chamber of Commerce2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
$165
$83
$83
$83
$83
$83
$0
$0
$125
501(c)(6)
Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
$85
$88
$88
$89
$89
$89
$89
501(c)(6)
Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
$296
$296
$296
$296
$296
$296
$296
$296
501(c)(6)
The Economic Development Council of Western Mass2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
$2,372
$2,303
$1,832
$2,372
$2,530
$2,530
$2,530
501(c)(6)
Waterbury Chamber of Commerce2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
$159
$159
$159
$159
$159
$9
$9
$9
$9
501(c)(6)

Political Action Committees

Eversource encourages its employees to be active members of their communities. Along with participation in civic, charitable and volunteer activities, this includes participation in the political process. Eligible employees may make voluntary contributions to Eversource’s Political Action Committees (EversourcePAC and EversourcePAC-NH).

EversourcePAC is a Federal political action committee and is administered by the Federal Legislative Affairs Department. EversourcePAC-NH is a state political action committee and is administered by the State Governmental Affairs Department. EversourcePAC and EversourcePAC-NH are each governed by a Steering Committee comprised of employees appointed from throughout the Company.

Contributions from EversourcePAC are approved by its Steering Committee and are publicly disclosed on the website of the Federal Election Commission.

Contributions from EversourcePAC-NH are approved by its Steering Committee and are publicly disclosed on the website of the Secretary of State of New Hampshire.