Massachusetts Electricity Rates
Massachusetts restructured its electricity market in 1997, making it one of the earliest states to offer full retail choice. Rates average 31.51¢/kWh. That’s 75% above the national average, giving residents strong incentive to compare competitive suppliers.
Over 170 communities have also adopted Community Choice Aggregation programs for additional savings. The state’s three utilities handle delivery while you choose your generation supplier.
Key Takeaways
Massachusetts Avg Rate
U.S. National Average
How Massachusetts Electricity Deregulation Works
Massachusetts passed the Electric Industry Restructuring Act in 1997, separating generation from delivery. Since 1998, all residential and commercial customers have been able to choose their competitive electricity supplier. Your utility continues to handle delivery, metering, billing, and outage restoration.
Identify Your Utility
Check your bill for National Grid (eastern & western MA), Eversource (eastern MA & Cape Cod), or Unitil (parts of southeastern MA). Your utility determines which suppliers are available.
Compare Suppliers
Browse licensed competitive suppliers and compare rates, contract terms, and renewable energy options. The MA DPU and ElectricChoice.com provide comparison tools.
Select & Enroll
Choose a plan and sign up online or by phone. Your supplier handles enrollment with your utility. Massachusetts provides consumer protection through the DPU.
Start Saving
The switch completes within 1–2 billing cycles with zero service interruption. Your utility continues delivering power through the same infrastructure.
Why MA Rates Are Among the Highest in the Nation
Massachusetts’s high rates are driven by several factors:
- Constrained natural gas pipelines causing winter price spikes
- Aging infrastructure requiring billions in upgrades
- Ambitious clean energy mandates, including the nation’s largest offshore wind commitments
- High property and labor costs
- The state’s position within the ISO New England wholesale market
Given these high rates, even a modest percentage savings from switching suppliers leads to significant monthly dollar savings.
Massachusetts Electric Utilities
Massachusetts is served by three investor-owned electric utilities. All territories support full retail choice.
National Grid
Serves about 1.3 million electric customers across eastern and western Massachusetts. Coverage includes the Greater Boston suburbs, Worcester, Springfield, and the Pioneer Valley. Outage line: 800-322-3223.
Eversource Energy
Serves about 1.5 million electric customers in eastern Massachusetts. Coverage includes portions of Greater Boston, the South Shore, Cape Cod, and Martha’s Vineyard. Formerly NSTAR and Western Massachusetts Electric. Outage line: 800-592-2000.
Unitil
A smaller utility serving about 27,000 electric customers in the Fitchburg area of north-central Massachusetts. Despite its small size, Unitil customers have full access to competitive suppliers. Outage line: 888-301-7700.
Massachusetts Energy Profile
Massachusetts is heavily dependent on natural gas for electricity generation. This makes the state vulnerable to winter price spikes when pipeline capacity is constrained.
The state is aggressively pursuing offshore wind. Contracted projects include Vineyard Wind and others totaling over 5,600 MW. These will significantly diversify the generation mix over the coming years. Massachusetts has set a legally binding target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Best Time to Shop for MA Electricity
Spring: Mar–May
Heating season ends and ISO-NE wholesale prices drop. Suppliers offer their most competitive rates. Lock in a fixed rate during this window for maximum savings.
Winter: Dec–Feb
New England’s constrained gas pipelines cause wholesale electricity prices to spike dramatically. Variable-rate customers have seen winter bills double. Lock in a fixed rate before December.
Fall: Sep–Nov
Summer cooling demand fades and wholesale prices retreat. An excellent window to secure a competitive fixed rate before winter price increases.
Massachusetts’ Major Cities
| City | Utility |
|---|---|
| Boston | Eversource |
| Worcester | National Grid |
| Springfield | Eversource |
| Cambridge | Eversource |
| Lowell | National Grid |
| Brockton | Eversource |
| New Bedford | Eversource |
| Quincy | Eversource |
| Fall River | Eversource |
| Lynn | National Grid |
| Somerville | Eversource |
| Framingham | Eversource |
Frequently Asked Questions About Massachusetts Electricity
Is Massachusetts a deregulated electricity state?
Yes. Massachusetts restructured its electricity market in 1997 under the Electric Industry Restructuring Act. Full retail choice has been available since 1998. All customers served by National Grid, Eversource, and Unitil can choose their competitive electricity supplier.
What is the average electricity rate in Massachusetts?
The average residential rate is 31.51¢/kWh. That’s 75% above the national average of 18.05¢/kWh. Massachusetts has the third-highest electricity rates in the continental United States.
What is Basic Service in Massachusetts?
Basic Service is the default generation rate for customers who haven’t chosen a competitive supplier. Each utility procures Basic Service through competitive auctions overseen by the MA Department of Public Utilities (DPU).
Residential Basic Service rates change every six months (January and July). Compare the Basic Service rate against competitive offers to see which option saves you more.
What is Community Choice Aggregation in Massachusetts?
Over 170 Massachusetts communities have active Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) programs that negotiate electricity supply on behalf of their residents. If your town has a CCA, you’re automatically enrolled at the aggregated rate. This often includes more renewable energy than Basic Service.
You can opt out and choose your own supplier or return to Basic Service at any time.
Who do I call for power outages in Massachusetts?
For power outages, contact your utility. National Grid: 800-322-3223. Eversource: 800-592-2000. Unitil: 888-301-7700. Your utility handles all delivery infrastructure and outage restoration regardless of your supplier.