National Grid Rate Increases in Massachusetts (2026)

A family in Worcester tears open their National Grid bill in July 2026 and stares at a number that's noticeably higher than last summer's. The air conditioning is running the same hours it always does. Nothing obvious changed. What changed was the supply rate printed in small type near the bottom of the bill.

This is the story for a lot of Massachusetts households right now. National Grid's Basic Service rate sits at approximately 15.4 cents per kilowatt-hour as of July 2026. That single line on your bill, which most customers never read closely, drives a large share of what you owe every month. Understanding what moves it, and when, is the first step toward controlling your costs.

Massachusetts electric bills have two main parts: delivery and supply. Delivery covers the poles, wires, and local infrastructure National Grid maintains to get electricity to your home. Supply is the cost of the electricity itself.

If you have never called a competitive energy supplier or enrolled through Energy Switch Massachusetts, you are on Basic Service, the utility's default supply option. National Grid procures that electricity through wholesale market auctions on a rolling basis, then passes the blended cost directly to customers at cost, with no markup. The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities oversees this process and requires the utility to file each new rate before it takes effect.

Basic Service is not a bad product. It is a transparent, regulated fallback. The problem is that it fully reflects wholesale market volatility, and wholesale power in New England has been expensive.

Several forces have pushed Massachusetts electric rates higher over the past few years, and most of them originate far outside National Grid's control.

New England's constrained power grid. ISO New England, the regional grid operator, manages one of the most supply-constrained electricity markets in the country. Natural gas pipelines into the region have limited capacity, which means on cold winter days and hot summer days, fuel costs spike sharply, and those spikes ripple through to every electricity contract written in the market.

Fuel costs. New England still relies heavily on natural gas-fired generation. When natural gas prices rise nationally or globally, electricity prices follow.

Rolling procurement windows. National Grid buys supply in tranches over time, locking in different prices at different moments. When the market is expensive during multiple procurement windows in a row, the blended Basic Service rate climbs and stays elevated even after spot prices cool.

Infrastructure investment recovery. Delivery charges, the other half of your bill, also rise as the utility invests in grid modernization and storm hardening. The MA DPU approves these increases through formal rate cases, but they add to total bill amounts regardless.

None of these factors are unique to National Grid. Eversource customers in eastern and western Massachusetts face similar dynamics, with a default supply rate of approximately 15.6 cents per kilowatt-hour as of July 2026.

Basic Service rates are not fixed year-round. National Grid adjusts them on a schedule tied to the procurement tranches mentioned above, typically updating rates for different customer classes at different intervals. Residential customers generally see rates reset more frequently than large commercial accounts.

Each reset is filed with and reviewed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. Customers are notified through bill inserts before a change takes effect. If you missed a notice and your bill jumped, that reset is the most likely explanation.

The DPU's oversight means National Grid cannot profit from Basic Service supply. The rate is a pure pass-through. That is consumer protection in one sense, but it also means there is no buffer: a bad procurement environment produces a high rate, full stop.

Basic Service is not the only option. Massachusetts is a deregulated electricity market, which means residential and business customers can choose a competitive supplier for the supply portion of their bill while National Grid continues to handle delivery.

As of July 2026, the lowest competitive supplier rate available in Massachusetts is approximately 15.1 cents per kilowatt-hour, depending on which utility territory you are in. That is a modest difference from National Grid's 15.4-cent Basic Service rate, but on a household using 600 to 700 kilowatt-hours per month it adds up over a year.

Supplier offers vary by contract length, cancellation terms, and whether the rate is fixed or variable. Fixed-rate contracts lock in a price for a set term, offering predictability when wholesale markets are volatile. Variable-rate contracts move with the market and can go either direction. Read the contract carefully before you sign.

To see current competitive offers for your zip code, visit ElectricRates.org's Massachusetts page or the state's official comparison tool, Energy Switch Massachusetts. Both sites show offers side by side so you can compare supply rates and contract terms before committing.

Many Massachusetts cities and towns have launched Community Choice Aggregation programs, sometimes called municipal aggregation. Under these programs, a municipality negotiates a bulk electricity supply contract on behalf of all eligible residents, often securing a rate competitive with or better than Basic Service.

If your town has an active aggregation program, you are typically enrolled automatically unless you opt out. Check your bill or contact your town's energy coordinator to find out whether a program is active in your community. Some aggregation programs also offer a renewable energy upgrade option at a modest premium.

Aggregation programs are regulated by the MA DPU and require a formal public process before launch. They are not available in every community, but they have expanded significantly across the state and are worth checking before signing a contract with a private supplier.

For households where rising rates have turned a manageable bill into a genuine hardship, Massachusetts has programs designed to help.

Low-Income Rate (LIRAP / low-income discount). National Grid offers a discounted rate for qualifying low-income customers. Eligibility is income-based; contact National Grid or the MA DPU directly to understand current thresholds and how to apply.

LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program). This federally funded program helps eligible households cover energy costs including electricity. The Massachusetts LIHEAP office coordinates enrollment; visit mass.gov for current program details and application periods.

Arrearage Management Program (AMP). If you have fallen behind on your National Grid bill, AMP allows customers to pay down past-due balances over time in exchange for maintaining on-time payments going forward. Ask National Grid's customer service line about enrollment.

Do not wait until service is at risk to ask about these programs. Utility staff are accustomed to fielding these requests and can often direct you to state and local resources as well.

Switching suppliers addresses the rate. Cutting usage addresses the quantity. At 15 cents-plus per kilowatt-hour, every kilowatt-hour you avoid saving meaningful money.

A few proven moves for Massachusetts households:

Shift usage to off-peak hours. If National Grid or your supplier offers a time-of-use rate, running the dishwasher, washing machine, or EV charger overnight or on weekends can reduce costs meaningfully.

Audit phantom loads. Electronics and appliances in standby mode can account for a surprising share of your monthly usage. Smart power strips and unplugging devices when not in use cost nothing.

Insulate and air-seal. Massachusetts utilities are required to offer energy efficiency programs through the Mass Save initiative. Free home energy assessments and rebates on insulation, heat pumps, and efficient appliances are available to most customers. Visit masssave.com to schedule an assessment.

Review your rate class. Some customers qualify for different rate structures based on usage patterns or equipment like electric vehicles. A quick call to National Grid can confirm whether you are on the most favorable rate class for your situation.

The rate environment in Massachusetts is not going to solve itself quickly. Wholesale power markets in New England remain tight, and Basic Service rates will continue to reflect that reality on each reset.

The practical checklist: check your current supply rate on your bill, compare it against live competitive offers at ElectricRates.org Massachusetts or Energy Switch Massachusetts, find out whether your town has an active aggregation program, and look into Mass Save if you have not had a home energy assessment recently.

Small moves compound. A slightly lower supply rate combined with reduced usage and available efficiency rebates can shift your annual electricity cost in a meaningful way, even if no single action feels dramatic on its own.