After years of urging, we are happy to report that the MA Attorney General on Nov 17th issued a strongly-worded letter to the state insurance rating bureau. In part, Attorney General Martha Coakley said: “We write to you to express our ongoing concern regarding homeowners insurance premiums in Massachusetts and, in particular, the use of unproven and in some cases discredited hurricane models to justify excessive voluntary market rates . . . The situation remains troubling.” Cape and Islands lawmakers have recently filed legislation calling for increased scrutiny of hurricane forecasting models and more transparency in how insurance rates are determined. The Fair Plan has also recently filed for a 7.4 per cent rate increase statewide and a 6.7 per cent rate increase for Cape Cod and the Islands. Private insurers remain reluctant to enter the MA market as well for a variety of reasons, including risk assessment based upon the very forecasting models Coakley and Cape legislators have challenged. The state rating bureau hearing has been rescheduled for Jan. 19, 2012.