BOSTON — Welcome to version three of Gov. Maura Healey’s pipeline story.

First, she bragged about it. While running for governor, Healey appeared in a campaign-era video circulated during the 2022 race, boasting that she blocked two natural gas pipelines from coming into Massachusetts, presenting it as a major political and environmental victory.

Then, as energy prices climbed and scrutiny increased, the story shifted. In subsequent interviews, Healey insisted she did not block two pipelines, pushing back on claims that she was responsible and suggesting the accusation was misleading.

Now comes the latest rewrite.

In a recent television interview with NBC Boston, Healey acknowledged that the pipelines were stopped after all — but said this time that she did it because the projects were a bad deal for taxpayers, reframing the decision as fiscal responsibility rather than a political win.

Same pipelines. Three different explanations.

The timing couldn’t be worse. Massachusetts residents are opening energy bills that feel completely out of control, with heating and electric costs soaring as winter sets in. Families are paying more. Businesses are paying more. Frustration is boiling over — a reality highlighted repeatedly in recent coverage of rising utility costs, including in the Boston Herald.

Against that backdrop, Healey’s shifting explanations have turned a major energy policy decision into a political circus. What began as a campaign brag became a denial — and has now re-emerged as a taxpayer justification — all while ratepayers feel the squeeze.

Whether it’s bragging, backtracking, or damage control, one thing hasn’t changed: energy costs in Massachusetts are spiraling, and voters are left wondering which version of the story they’re supposed to believe this time