Energy company encourages customers to take advantage of energy efficiency and assistance programs

BOSTON and SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 22, 2024) – As colder weather arrives in Massachusetts amidst continuing volatility in the energy market, Eversource Basic Service Rate electric customers can expect to pay a 7% lower winter supply price compared to their current summer rate. The energy company recently filed new electric supply prices from power generators with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU), that will also be lower than last winter’s price – 11% lower for Eastern Massachusetts customers and 12% lower for Western Massachusetts customers – and the lowest winter rate since 2021. The supply rate changes twice a year – February 1 and August 1. Eversource does not generate electricity and is required to purchase power on behalf of customers who take the Basic Service Rate, and those costs are passed on with no markup or profit to the company.

“A lower price for energy is certainly good news for customers, and we’re pleased to share that it’s the lowest winter rate we’ve seen from power generators in years,” said Eversource Executive Vice President of Customer Experience and Energy Strategy Penni Conner. “This change will not apply to many of our customers in Massachusetts, who are already signed up for a municipal aggregation program through their cities and towns or with a competitive electric supplier, but we want to remind all our customers that we still have payment assistance programs and nation-leading energy efficiency resources available to help them manage their bills and energy use.”

With approval from the DPU, the new rate for Eastern Massachusetts residential customers receiving energy supply from Eversource, known as the Basic Service Rate, would change from the current 15.77 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 13.35 cents per kWh starting February 1. For Western Massachusetts residential customers, Basic Service would change from the current 14.02 cents per kWh to 11.83 cents per kWh. For customers who use an average of 600 kWh per month, that’s a total bill decrease of $15 for Eastern Massachusetts customers and a total bill decrease of $13 for Western Massachusetts customers. How much a customer pays will ultimately depend on how much energy is used, their rate category and weather conditions.

This change only affects customers on the Eversource Basic Service Rate in Eastern and Western Massachusetts, not those who receive their electric supply through municipal aggregation programs or a third-party supplier. These options can save customers money, and the energy company encourages customers to review supply rates available to them as long as they read the contract information carefully and understand the terms.

Help is available for customers who need it

Eversource encourages customers to enroll in one of its payment plans or assistance programs if they need help with their energy bill by calling 866–861–6225 (Eastern Massachusetts) or 877–963–2632 (Western Massachusetts), or visit Eversource.com/BillHelp to find the right plan for them and enroll online.

• The New Start Program can help income-eligible, electric and gas customers reduce or eliminate their outstanding balance in as little as 12 months when they make on-time monthly payments and Eversource will make up the difference by eliminating or forgiving a portion of the total balance enrolled in the program – reducing the amount owed each month.
• Flexible Payment Plans are available to all customers, regardless of income, to pay their past-due balance over a period of time.
• Budget Billing Plans are also available and can help customers avoid seasonal spikes on their energy bill by paying a fixed amount each month based on their average annual usage.
• A Discount Rate is available to customers receiving public assistance benefits and have a household income at or below 60% of the state median income. These customers may be eligible for a 42% discount on their monthly electric bill or a 25% discount on their monthly natural gas bill.

Additionally, customers can explore the award-winning energy efficiency programs, rebates and seasonal tips offered by Eversource, a Sponsor of Mass Save, to help reduce their energy use.

Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is the #1 energy company in Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2023 and recognized as one of America’s Most JUST Companies. Celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to 1.8 million customers throughout Massachusetts, including approximately 1.47 million electric customers in 140 communities, 639,000 gas customers in 117 communities, and 11,500 water customers in five communities. Eversource harnesses the commitment of approximately 10,000 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.

CONTACT:
Kyle Costa
774–464–8185
kyle.costa@eversource.com