Ben Simmoneau

Boston

Journalist at WCVB-TV (Boston, MA)

Dad, husband, journalist @WCVB. Retweets are not endorsements. [email protected]

Articles

Mass. customers say National Grid didn't tell them about electric bill switch

3 weeks ago | wcvb.com | Ben Simmoneau

National Grid is under fire again from Massachusetts customers over billing problems. Numerous gas and electric customers said the utility giant left them in the dark for months about a move from paper to electronic bills. Several said they only learned of the switch when a disconnection notice arrived in their mailbox in the last few weeks with a demand for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Now, state regulators said some of those customers may be owed money back from the company.
Massachusetts auditor says her office looking into Mass Save amid energy cost surge

4 weeks ago | wcvb.com | Ben Simmoneau

After a winter of surging energy costs, the Massachusetts State Auditor told WCVB's "On The Record" that her office is looking into the biggest program fueling the rise in utility bills: Mass Save. Mass Save, the state's energy efficiency program, has come under fire for its rapidly growing costs and the amount it adds to customer bills. The program is paid for by gas and electric customers through delivery charges on their bills every month.
Mass. changes its EV plans after Senate blocks California proposal

1 month ago | wcvb.com | Ben Simmoneau

One day after the U.S. Senate blocked California's plan to phase out gas-powered cars by 2035, Massachusetts is pausing enforcement of its own electric vehicle requirements, which were supposed to start next year. Massachusetts is one of 11 states that followed California's lead and plan to ban new gas-powered cars by 2035. As part of that plan, the state will require manufacturers to sell an increasing number of EVs each model year, which was supposed to start in 2026. On Friday, Gov.
Mass Lottery winners want to take the big check, but not the photo

1 month ago | wcvb.com | Ben Simmoneau

If luck is a lady, she could be Natalie Logan. The Quincy attorney is fast becoming a familiar face at Mass Lottery headquarters in Dorchester. "When somebody calls me and says, 'I won the lottery! What do I do?" Logan said. "I'm like, yes, this is my bread and butter."State law requires any lottery prize worth $103,000 or more to be picked up in person. The process includes signing a lot of paperwork and taking a photo.
Five money-saving websites you need to know about

1 month ago | wcvb.com | Ben Simmoneau

In an uncertain economy like this, every penny counts. So we asked the experts at Consumers' Checkbook for some of their favorite money-saving websites that we may not have heard of. Here are five of them: Up first: JustWatch.com. Let's say it's movie night, and the kids want to watch a movie but you don't know where to find it. Start by plugging the title into JustWatch.com.
Massachusetts man went to urgent care but was hit with a hospital bill

1 month ago | wcvb.com | Ben Simmoneau

The sign said urgent care, but the bill didn't. A local man says a recent visit to urgent care left him with some pressing questions about a surprising billing practice from one of the region's largest health care providers. Back in March, Rich Coulombre wasn't feeling well, but his primary care doctor was on vacation. He turned to the Brigham and Women's Urgent Care at Patriot Place in Foxborough, which wasn't far from his Medfield home.
Boston College professor weighs in on historic election of Pope Leo XIV

1 month ago | wcvb.com | Ben Simmoneau

JOHN ATWATER WCVB NEWSCENTER 5. JOHN. THANK YOU. LET’S BRING IN NOW THOMAS GROOME, WHO IS PROFESSOR OF RELIGION AND THEOLOGY HERE AT BOSTON COLLEGE. PROFESSOR GROOME, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU. ALL RIGHT. FIRST OFF, I HAVE TO GET YOUR REACTION TODAY TO THIS BEING, OF COURSE, THE FIRST AMERICAN POPE. WE ARE AT AN INTERESTING TIME IN WORLD POLITICS. IT’S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. FIRST POPE, ALSO FROM ALL OF NORTH AMERICA. WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON THAT AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT?
First American pope: Boston College expert discusses historic moment

1 month ago | wcvb.com | Ben Simmoneau

FROM NORTH AMERICA. AND HERE NOW TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE ON THE NEW POPE, DOCTOR GREGORY NEWTON WITH BOSTON COLLEGE AND THE PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW AND POLICY GROUP. DOCTOR NEWTON, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. MY PLEASURE. FIRST, WE WANT TO GET YOUR REACTION TO ALL THIS. THE FIRST AMERICAN POPE AND A FELLOW VILLANOVA ALUM. WHAT DO YOU THINK? YEAH. SO IT’S A SIGNIFICANT DAY FOR THE CHURCH.
Mass. homeowners say state ignoring cost in push toward all electric heat

1 month ago | wcvb.com | Ben Simmoneau

Massachusetts is pushing homeowners to switch from oil or gas heat to electric heat pumps, but several people who have made that switch said they have buyer's remorse. They said they were shocked at how expensive it was this winter to heat their homes with electricity and believe the state should have done more to lower the cost sooner, especially if it wants everyone to adopt electric heat pumps. Laura and Joe Stephens could not believe their electric bills this winter.
Mass. gas companies under fire for possibly overcharging customers

1 month ago | wcvb.com | Ben Simmoneau

After a winter of sky-high natural gas bills, regulators in Massachusetts have now said the state's gas companies may have been overcharging customers for work they're doing to replace pipes. The finding comes as part of a new series of actions the Department of Public Utilities is taking to try to lower customer bills. In orders issued late Wednesday, the DPU immediately cut the amount of money gas companies can spend on pipe repair and replacement.