Boston Electricity Rates: Eversource Service & Choice Guide

Boston residents pay about 28¢/kWh for electricity. The national average sits around 17¢. That 11-cent gap adds up fast, running about $162 per month on average versus $144 nationally.

Eversource Energy is your utility here. But you have three options for where your actual electricity comes from.

Eversource Basic Service is the default utility rate. Boston Community Choice Electricity (BCCE) is the city's municipal aggregation program where most residents are already enrolled. And there are competitive suppliers, though I'd be careful with those (more on that later).

Supply charges make up 70-80% of your bill. Picking the right option can cut costs and get you renewable energy at the same time.

Eversource Energy is the electric distribution utility for Boston and Greater Boston, serving about 1.4 million customers across eastern Massachusetts. They're regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU).

Here's what trips people up: Eversource handles the wires, the poles, the outage response, and the meter reading regardless of who supplies your electricity. That never changes.

Your bill has two parts. Distribution charges cover the delivery infrastructure and stay the same no matter what. Supply charges come from whoever generates your electricity, whether that's Eversource Basic Service, BCCE, or a competitive supplier.

Only supply charges are something you can control.

Eversource Basic Service rate for Boston residential customers is 14.884¢/kWh as of August 2025. That's up 12.3% from the previous 13.2¢. BCCE Standard usually comes in lower than Basic Service, and when you add delivery charges, you're looking at about 28¢/kWh total.

Rates change twice a year in February and August. You can choose a six-month fixed price (the default) or monthly variable pricing.

With rates this high, comparing your options matters more here than almost anywhere else.

About 80% of Boston residents get their electricity through Boston Community Choice Electricity, the city's municipal aggregation program. You're probably already in it.

BCCE has three tiers. Optional Basic is the cheapest at 24% renewable. Standard (the default) has a higher renewable percentage. Optional Green 100 gets you 100% local renewable energy if you're willing to pay for it.

Eligible Eversource customers get enrolled automatically. Rates are locked from December 2025 through November 2027, which is nice stability. BCCE Standard usually beats Eversource Basic Service on price, and you can opt out anytime if you find something better.

The City of Boston Environment Department runs the program, and they get supply through competitive procurement.

Note: some competitive suppliers charge more than double what BCCE charges. For most people, BCCE is the best deal without having to do anything.

Be careful with competitive electricity suppliers in Boston.

The numbers tell the story: the MA Attorney General found that third-party suppliers charged Massachusetts residents $525 million more than utility Basic Service from 2015-2021. The City of Boston reports some suppliers charging more than double BCCE Standard rates.

The pattern is usually the same. Attractive introductory rates that jump up later. Aggressive marketing at your door or on the phone. Final costs that end up higher than utility or BCCE.

For most Boston residents, Boston Community Choice Electricity or Eversource Basic Service is just a better deal.

If you're considering a competitive supplier anyway, compare total costs over the full contract term. That introductory rate doesn't mean much if it triples after three months.

Here's how the options stack up.

Eversource Basic Service runs 14.884¢/kWh with rates changing every 6 months. BCCE typically comes in lower, includes renewable energy, and offers longer rate stability. Competitive suppliers vary wildly (some competitive, others way higher).

When you compare, look at the supply rate per kWh, the contract term, what happens at automatic renewal, and any early termination fees.

Remember: Eversource distribution charges stay the same regardless of supplier. Only supply rates change, so that's what you're really comparing.

BCCE Standard is a solid benchmark. It requires zero shopping effort while typically providing competitive rates with renewable energy. Hard to beat that combination.

Your Boston Eversource electric bill breaks down into two parts: distribution and supply.

Distribution charges are constant. That includes the customer charge (a fixed monthly fee), transmission charges, and various surcharges and assessments. Nothing you can do about these.

Supply charges make up 70-80% of your bill and come from whoever generates your electricity, whether that's Eversource Basic Service, BCCE, or a competitive supplier. This is the part you can control.

In Boston, total electricity runs about 28¢/kWh (nearly double the national average). Supply makes up 70-80% of that, delivery 20-30%. Your bill shows total kWh consumed, current rates, and who's supplying your power.

The key insight: only supply charges change with supplier choice. That's where to focus your comparison shopping.

Given Boston's high electricity costs, savings strategies are especially important.

On the supply side, BCCE Optional Basic is the lowest cost for budget-conscious customers. BCCE Standard gives you a good balance of cost and renewables. BCCE Optional Green 100 costs more but gets you 100% renewable for environmentally-conscious customers. Eversource Basic Service is always an alternative if you prefer the utility rate.

Mass Save offers rebates on efficient appliances, no-cost home energy assessments, and weatherization incentives. Worth taking advantage of.

DIY efficiency improvements matter a lot in New England winters. LED lighting, smart thermostats, and weatherization (sealing drafts, adding insulation) all make a real difference.

If money is tight, fuel assistance programs through Action for Boston Community Development can help. Budget billing spreads your annual costs evenly so winter bills don't hit as hard.

When the power goes out in Boston, Eversource handles it regardless of who supplies your electricity. That's always the utility's job.

Call 1-800-592-2000 to report an outage. The Eversource mobile app works too, and you can check the outage map at eversource.com to see what's happening in your area.

Boston gets hit by Nor'easters, winter ice storms, summer thunderstorms, and high winds that take down trees in the older neighborhoods. Outages happen.

Eversource has been upgrading the grid with smart meters and automated switching equipment to improve reliability and restoration speed. If you ever see a downed power line, stay far away and call immediately. Never assume it's dead.

Pro tip: sign up for Eversource outage alerts by text, email, or phone so you're not left wondering when power will come back.

Here are the numbers and resources you'll need.

Eversource handles customer service and outages at 1-800-592-2000. Their website is eversource.com.

For Boston Community Choice Electricity, visit boston.gov/departments/environment/community-choice-electricity or call Boston 311.

If you have a complaint, the Massachusetts DPU at 1-877-886-5066 can help. The MA Attorney General's Energy and Telecommunications Division also handles consumer issues.

For energy efficiency, Mass Save at masssave.com or 1-866-527-7283 offers assessments, rebates, and weatherization programs.

If you're struggling to pay your bill, Action for Boston Community Development at 617-357-6000 can connect you with LIHEAP heating assistance and discount rate programs.