Electricity Plan Types in Massachusetts (2026)

A Worcester homeowner opens her August electricity bill and notices the supply charge is higher than her neighbor's, even though they live on the same street. Same utility, different supply rate. The difference is simple: her neighbor switched to a competitive supplier last spring, while she is still on her utility's default plan. That gap, small on one bill and significant over a year, is why understanding Massachusetts electricity plan types matters.

This guide breaks down every major plan type available to Massachusetts customers in 2026, explains what the numbers mean, and shows where to go to compare live offers.

Massachusetts is a retail choice state, meaning customers can either stay on their utility's default supply or switch to a competitive electricity supplier. The utilities, Eversource and National Grid, still deliver the electricity over their wires regardless of which supply option a customer picks. The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) regulates both the utilities and the competitive suppliers operating in the state.

What changes when you switch is who sets your supply rate and under what terms. That is where plan types come in. Delivery charges, including the cost of maintaining poles, wires, and meters, stay with your utility no matter what.

For a broader look at all your options in the state, visit our Massachusetts electricity rates page.

If a Massachusetts customer has never actively chosen a supply plan, they are on Basic Service, the default supply rate set by the utility and approved by the DPU. Basic Service is not a locked-in contract, and there is no penalty for leaving it, but it also offers no rate certainty.

As of August 2026, Basic Service supply rates are:

• Eversource: approximately 17.3 cents per kWh


• National Grid (mainland): approximately 17.2 cents per kWh


• National Grid (Nantucket): approximately 16.1 cents per kWh

Basic Service rates are adjusted on a set schedule, typically every six months, based on wholesale electricity market prices. That means a customer who stays on Basic Service will see their rate move up or down without any action on their part. It functions like a de facto variable rate, though the mechanism is different from a standard variable-rate plan offered by a competitive supplier.

A fixed-rate plan locks in a supply rate for a defined term, commonly six months to two or three years. The rate does not change when wholesale electricity prices spike or drop during that period.

Advantages: Predictable supply costs make budgeting straightforward. If wholesale prices rise sharply, a customer on a fixed-rate plan is insulated.

Trade-offs: If wholesale prices fall, a fixed-rate customer continues paying the locked-in rate. Some plans include an early termination fee if a customer wants to leave before the term ends. Reading the contract carefully before signing is essential.

As of August 2026, the lowest competitive supplier rate available in Massachusetts is approximately 15.7 cents per kWh, though specific offers vary by utility territory and contract length. Check ElectricRates.org for current fixed-rate offers in your area.

A variable-rate plan has a supply rate that can change from month to month. Unlike Basic Service, whose adjustments follow a regulatory schedule, a competitive supplier's variable rate can move at the supplier's discretion, subject to DPU rules.

Variable-rate plans sometimes start with a low introductory rate, then adjust after the first month or two. Customers who are not paying attention can find themselves paying well above Basic Service rates after the introductory period ends.

When a variable-rate plan makes sense: A customer who monitors their bill closely and is willing to switch quickly if rates climb may benefit from a variable-rate offer that starts below Basic Service. For most households, though, a fixed-rate plan or staying on Basic Service provides more predictability.

The DPU requires competitive suppliers to disclose when and how variable rates can change, so always read the disclosure statement before enrolling.

A green energy plan, sometimes called a renewable energy plan, pairs a customer's electricity supply with renewable energy certificates (RECs) or, in some cases, direct generation from solar, wind, or other clean sources. Suppliers typically offer a percentage of supply matched to renewables: 50 percent, 100 percent, or some other figure.

Massachusetts already has a Renewable Portfolio Standard that requires a portion of all electricity sold in the state to come from qualified renewable sources, so even Basic Service customers get some renewable content. A green energy plan from a competitive supplier goes further by increasing that percentage.

Cost consideration: Green plans often carry a small premium over standard supply rates, though the gap has narrowed as renewable energy costs have fallen. Some plans price at or below Basic Service rates while still offering a meaningful renewable content increase. Comparing the full rate against Basic Service before enrolling is the most reliable way to evaluate the value.

Customers interested in rooftop solar should also look into net metering programs overseen by the DPU, which are separate from competitive supply plans.

Community Choice Aggregation, commonly called CCA or municipal aggregation, lets a city or town pool its residents' electricity demand and negotiate a supply rate on their behalf. Once a municipality establishes a CCA program, residents are typically enrolled automatically unless they opt out.

CCA programs are set up under authority granted by the DPU and often target a rate that beats or matches Basic Service. Many Massachusetts towns have designed their CCA to include a higher renewable energy percentage than the standard mix. Because the buying power of an entire municipality is behind the contract, CCA programs can sometimes secure competitive pricing that individual households could not achieve on their own.

What to watch for: CCA rates are not always lower than every competitive supplier offer on the open market. Customers who have already switched to a competitive supplier they are happy with may want to compare their current rate against what their town's CCA offers before assuming a switch is worthwhile. If you have been auto-enrolled and are unsure whether your town's CCA is the best fit, contact your municipal aggregator or check current supplier offers through our Massachusetts page.

The state's official comparison tool is Energy Switch Massachusetts, which lists licensed competitive suppliers and their current offers side by side. The DPU maintains this resource to help customers evaluate options without having to contact each supplier individually.

When comparing any offer against Basic Service, focus on these elements:

• Supply rate in cents per kWh (the primary number to compare)


• Contract length and early termination fee


• Whether the rate is fixed or variable


• Renewable content percentage


• Any monthly fees charged in addition to the per-kWh rate

For live, side-by-side rate comparisons updated in real time, ElectricRates.org pulls current offers across all plan types available to Massachusetts customers. Entering your zip code takes less than a minute and surfaces the offers relevant to your specific utility territory.

Massachusetts has several programs that reduce electricity costs for qualifying households, separate from the competitive supply market.

LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) provides federal heating and utility assistance. Eligibility and benefit amounts depend on household income and size. The program is administered at the state level through the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (formerly DHCD, reorganized in 2023).

Low-income discount rates are available through both Eversource and National Grid for customers who qualify. These discounts apply to the delivery portion of the bill and are governed by DPU tariffs. Customers should contact their utility directly or visit the DPU website to understand current eligibility requirements, since income thresholds and benefit structures are updated periodically and specific figures are best confirmed through the authoritative source.

Low-income customers should evaluate any competitive supplier offer carefully. A modest per-kWh saving on supply does not always outweigh the value of a utility low-income discount, particularly when delivery charges are factored in.