Mass Save Program Guide: Rebates & Savings in 2026

A homeowner in Worcester opens her July electric bill and sees the same number she has seen for three years running, despite the new LED bulbs and the programmable thermostat she installed herself. Her neighbor, who went through a Mass Save energy assessment last winter, has a bill that is noticeably lower and a heat pump that keeps her house cool without the window-unit noise.

That gap is not luck. Mass Save is Massachusetts' statewide energy efficiency program, administered by the state's electric and gas utilities under oversight from the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU). It pools ratepayer funds to offer rebates, free audits, and low-cost financing that most homeowners leave on the table simply because they don't know where to start. This guide covers how the program works, what it offers in 2026, and how pairing those upgrades with a competitive electricity rate can compound your savings.

Mass Save is not a single government agency. It is a collaborative of Massachusetts electric and gas utilities, including Eversource and National Grid, working together under a framework approved by the DPU. When you pay your electric bill, a small charge funds the program. Mass Save then channels those funds back to customers as rebates, no-cost services, and financing.

The DPU approves each utility's three-year energy efficiency plan, called a Program Administrator plan, which sets the rebate levels and program rules. That regulatory structure means the benefits are consistent and legally required, not a promotional offer that disappears next quarter.

Every Massachusetts residential electric customer served by Eversource or National Grid is eligible to participate. If you live on Nantucket, National Grid serves your island and you have access to the same Mass Save benefits as customers on the mainland.

The starting point for almost every Mass Save benefit is the free home energy assessment, also called a home energy audit. A trained energy specialist visits your home, usually for two to three hours, and evaluates insulation levels, air sealing, heating and cooling equipment, water heating, and lighting. There is no charge for the visit.

At the end of the assessment, the specialist produces a prioritized list of recommendations. Some improvements, like basic weatherstripping and low-flow showerheads, may be installed on the spot at no cost. For larger projects, the report becomes your roadmap to rebates.

To schedule an assessment, contact your utility directly or visit the Mass Save website at masssave.com. Wait times have historically been a few weeks, so scheduling early in the season before peak demand makes sense.

One practical note: renters can request an assessment too, though landlord participation is often required for larger upgrades. The Mass Save site has a specific pathway for renters and landlords to coordinate.

After the assessment, rebates are where the real money sits. As of 2026, Mass Save continues to offer substantial incentives across several categories. Specific dollar amounts and eligibility rules are updated periodically by the DPU, so the figures below are directional. Always verify current rebate levels at masssave.com or through ElectricRates.org before starting a project.

Insulation and air sealing. This is historically the highest-value category for most homes. Mass Save has covered a significant share of insulation costs for eligible customers, with income-eligible households often receiving larger incentives. The assessment report will show the insulation levels your home currently has and what is recommended.

Heat pumps. Cold-climate air-source heat pumps and ground-source heat pumps carry meaningful rebates. Heat pumps provide both heating and cooling from a single system, and Massachusetts' grid is increasingly clean, which amplifies the long-term benefit of electrifying your heat.

Smart thermostats. Rebates are available for qualified connected thermostats that can respond to grid signals and reduce peak demand.

Water heaters. Heat pump water heaters, which are dramatically more efficient than standard electric resistance models, are an eligible category.

Electric vehicle charging equipment. Home charging station rebates have been part of the program in recent years. Check current availability through your utility.

For income-eligible customers, Mass Save has a separate tier of enhanced rebates and, in some cases, fully subsidized measures. Contact your utility or visit the Mass Save site to find out whether you qualify.

Even with rebates, a heat pump or comprehensive insulation project can carry a significant upfront cost. Mass Save addresses this through the HEAT Loan program (Home Energy Assistance Loan), which offers zero-percent financing through participating lenders for qualified energy efficiency improvements.

The loan is designed to cover the portion of a project cost not covered by rebates. Because the interest rate is zero, the monthly payment is simply the loan amount divided by the term. That structure lets many homeowners finance an upgrade so that the monthly payment is lower than the energy savings the upgrade produces, making the project cash-flow positive from month one.

Loan amounts and terms are set by the program and participating lenders. To find current limits and apply, work through your Mass Save assessment or contact a participating contractor who can walk you through the application. The Mass Save website maintains a list of participating lenders and eligible measures.

Mass Save improves how efficiently your home uses electricity. But if you are paying more per kilowatt-hour than you need to, efficiency gains leave money behind.

In Massachusetts, every residential customer has two components on their bill: delivery charges from their utility (Eversource or National Grid, which are regulated and fixed) and a supply charge for the electricity itself. That supply charge is where you have a choice.

By default, customers are placed on their utility's Basic Service rate. As of July 2026, Eversource's Basic Service rate is approximately 15.6 cents per kilowatt-hour and National Grid's is approximately 15.4 cents per kilowatt-hour. The lowest competitive supplier rate available in the state is currently around 12.4 cents per kilowatt-hour, depending on the utility territory.

That gap matters more after a Mass Save upgrade. A heat pump water heater or a whole-home heat pump system increases your electricity consumption, which is by design since you are shifting away from fossil fuel. But every kilowatt-hour you use at 12.4 cents instead of 15.6 cents compounds the savings your new equipment delivers.

The state comparison tool, Energy Switch Massachusetts, lets you view offers from licensed competitive suppliers side by side. You can also browse Massachusetts electricity rates on ElectricRates.org to compare live offers. Switching suppliers does not change your utility, your meter, or your service reliability. Only the supply line on your bill changes.

The sequence that works best for most households:

1. Schedule your free assessment. Go to masssave.com or call your utility. This unlocks all downstream rebates and financing.

2. Review the recommendations. Prioritize based on your energy use, your home's current condition, and the available rebates. Insulation and air sealing tend to deliver the fastest payback.

3. Get contractor quotes. Mass Save maintains a directory of participating contractors who are trained in program requirements and can apply rebates on your behalf. Using a participating contractor simplifies the rebate process significantly.

4. Apply for the HEAT Loan if needed. Your contractor or the participating lender can walk you through the application.

5. Check your supply rate. While your upgrades are in progress or after they are complete, visit ElectricRates.org's Massachusetts page to compare current competitive supplier rates. If a rate below Basic Service is available and the contract terms fit, switching takes about ten minutes online.

Doing steps one through five positions a Massachusetts household to reduce consumption, reduce waste, and reduce the per-unit cost of whatever electricity is still consumed.

A few patterns show up repeatedly among homeowners who do not get the full value from Mass Save.

Skipping the assessment. Some people call a contractor directly, get insulation installed, and then discover they missed the rebate because they did not go through the official assessment pathway first. The assessment is the gateway, not optional paperwork.

Waiting for "the right time." Assessment slots fill up, especially in spring and fall. Rebate budgets can also be drawn down within a program year. Applying early gives you more options.

Ignoring income-qualified programs. Enhanced rebates for income-eligible customers are substantially larger in some cases. If household income is below a certain threshold, it is worth asking specifically about income-qualified tiers. The Mass Save site and your utility can confirm current thresholds.

Leaving the supply rate alone. After going through the effort of a Mass Save project, many homeowners leave their Basic Service rate in place indefinitely. Checking competitive offers once a year takes minutes and can add meaningful savings.

Mass Save is one of the most comprehensive residential energy efficiency programs in the country, and Massachusetts homeowners are paying into it through every electric bill whether they use it or not. The free assessment, the rebates, and the zero-interest HEAT Loan are funded and waiting.

Combining those physical upgrades with a lower competitive supply rate is the full picture. Efficiency reduces consumption. A lower rate reduces the cost of consumption that remains. Together, they work in the same direction on your bill.

For current competitive supplier rates in your area, visit ElectricRates.org. For Mass Save programs, assessments, and rebate details, start at masssave.com or contact Eversource or National Grid directly.