As Gov. Maura Healey has sought to tackle soaring energy costs in an election year defined by cost-of-living issues — and increasingly attacked the utility companies for “greed” and corporate profits at the expense of ratepayers — the top executive at the state’s largest electric and gas company doesn’t sound too concerned with the rhetoric coming from the corner office.

Joe Nolan, who has served as CEO of Eversource since 2021, said during an industry conference on September 30 that he had a friendly chat with Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll a week prior.

“It’s only 37 more days to go” until the election, Nolan recalled telling the duo, according to a transcript of his remarks acquired by CommonWealth Beacon.

“We have good relations with all of them,” Nolan continued, referring to the governors of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire, the states in which Eversource operates. “As much as you might hear them maybe take a whack or a knock at us or me or at certain things, I will tell you if I had $1 for every time they say, ‘Hey, nothing personal, Joe. You know you’re our friend.’ But they have to do that. Obviously, they’re getting attacked, utility issues are front and center. Rates are front and center. But all that noise in 37 days, you’re going to see the volume is going to go right down and you won’t hear much of that.”

And the harsh rhetoric from Healey, who is seeking reelection, also hasn’t blunted Nolan’s financial support for her.

A week earlier, on September 21, right around the time he said he spoke with Healey and Driscoll, Nolan donated $1,000 – the annual legal maximum – to each of their campaigns, according to records from the Office of Campaign and Political Finance.

Between September 10 and October 6, 14 Eversource executives donated to Healey’s campaign, adding a total of $4,500 to her campaign coffers. The same number of Eversource executives gave Driscoll $4,875 in roughly that same timeframe. Those donating include the president of the company’s gas distribution business, the vice president of transmission, the chief financial officer, attorneys, and lobbyists.

By contrast, Healey’s GOP challenger Mike Minogue only received two donations from Eversource employees during the months of September and October – neither of which are from Nolan – totaling $150.

More Context

• For Healey, a delicate dance with the utilities emerges during election season (September 2026)
• Healey’s reelection bid confronts volatile energy politics (May 2026)