Massachusetts Electricity Choice: Compare Before You Switch (2026)

Here's something most Massachusetts residents don't know: the state Attorney General found that most people who switched suppliers paid more than if they'd stayed on Basic Service.

That doesn't mean you can't save. It means you need to compare carefully.

Massachusetts deregulated electricity in 1997.^[1] Eversource and National Grid still own the wires. They still fix outages. They still read your meter. That never changes.

What changes is who generates your electricity. Basic Service is the default. Competitive suppliers offer alternatives—fixed rates, green energy, different terms. Some beat Basic Service. Many don't. The difference between saving money and wasting it? Doing the math before you sign.

Your Massachusetts electric bill has two parts. Only one is shoppable.

Supply is the electricity itself. This is where you have choices. Accept Basic Service or find a licensed supplier. Basic Service rates change every January and July based on wholesale markets—you're riding prices up and down.

Delivery is infrastructure. Power lines. Transformers. Storm crews at 2 AM. State-regulated rates. Same charge no matter who supplies your power. No shopping here.

When you switch, nothing physical changes. Same wires. Same utility truck during outages. Same bill format. Only the supply line changes—new rate, new supplier name.

The Massachusetts DPU licenses every electricity supplier in the state. No license, no legal sales.

Getting licensed requires financial background checks and operational reviews. Staying licensed means following marketing rules, clear contracts, honoring consumer protections. The DPU posts licensed suppliers on their website. Check before you sign.

The DPU investigates complaints. They order refunds. They revoke licenses. They've done both. Not just for show.

Problems? Call 617-305-3500. Real people answer. They'll walk you through filing a complaint.

Basic Service is what you get if you don't choose. Your utility buys power through auctions and passes the cost straight through.

Rates reset every January and July.^[4] Summer and winter can swing dramatically. No rate lock. No predictability. You're riding the market.

Competitive suppliers offer alternatives. Fixed-rate plans lock your price for 12-36 months—no sticker shock when heating season hits. Variable plans change monthly. Sometimes cheaper. Sometimes not. Many offer 100% renewable for environmentally-conscious customers.

Massachusetts households average 600 kWh monthly. A 2¢ difference? That's $144 per year. Not life-changing. But the real question: does a locked rate beat Basic Service swings over time? Sometimes yes. Often no. Compare before you commit.

Switching takes five minutes. Your power never blinks.

Grab your Eversource or National Grid bill. Find your account number. Compare offers on ElectricRates.org. Pick a plan. Enroll online or by phone.

That's it.

Your new supplier notifies your utility. Takes one or two billing cycles. You keep getting one bill—but the supply line shows your new rate and supplier.

No one comes to your house. No service interruption. Just a different charge on your bill—hopefully lower, if you compared carefully.

Two main utilities serve Massachusetts. Where you live determines which one.

Eversource: Eastern Massachusetts—Greater Boston, Cape Cod, South Shore. Also parts of western MA around Springfield.

National Grid: Central Massachusetts—Worcester, MetroWest, southern suburbs.

Each utility sets its own Basic Service rate, changing every six months. You can't pick your utility. You can pick your supplier.

Important: Municipal utilities like Holyoke Gas & Electric or Braintree Electric Light aren't deregulated. If you're served by a muni, you can't switch. Check your bill.

Massachusetts has strong renewable options. Some cost more than Basic Service. Many don't.

Competitive suppliers offer 100% renewable from wind, solar, hydro. Community solar lets you subscribe to a local solar farm and get bill credits. No panels on your roof. No installation. Just credits showing up monthly.

What most people don't know: Massachusetts requires utilities to buy increasing amounts of renewable energy each year. This pushes green energy costs down. Some renewable plans now beat Basic Service rates.

When comparing green plans, check for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)—they verify environmental claims aren't just marketing. Also check whether power comes from local New England sources or distant projects.

Massachusetts law protects you. Know these rules.

Suppliers must give you a written contract with all rates, fees, and terms before you sign. In writing. Don't trust verbal promises.

3 business days to cancel. Any new contract. No penalty. No explanation. Just call.

"Slamming" (switching you without permission) and "cramming" (adding unauthorized charges) are illegal. Report violations to the DPU.

Your utility can't disconnect power during a supplier dispute. The DPU investigates complaints and orders refunds. Real teeth.

One catch: if you receive fuel assistance or LIHEAP benefits, verify switching won't affect your eligibility. Some programs have specific rules.