How the Grid Connection Process Works
The process to connect a new project to the electric grid includes 5 steps, shown in the figure below. Regardless of the project, the most important step is to contact your local utility as early as possible.
The above steps are explained further in this one-page resources: Customer Process for Electric Service Connections.
Online Grid Capacity Maps
Eversource and National grid both provide online maps of the current grid capacity available for new customers (called "headroom") and for new distributed generation (called "hosting capacity"). These maps can be used by municipalities, developers, and others to informally determine if there is sufficient grid capacity to connect a new project.
- Under "currently displayed capacities", chose either "headroom" for available capacity for new projects or "hosting capacity" for available capacity for new distributed generation.
- Use the "heat map" tab to identify the available capacity (or "headroom") for new projects.
- Use the "hosting capacity" tab to identify the available capacity for new distributed generation.
"Step 0" Process
Customers of the state's investor-owned utilities (Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil) can ask their utility for an assessment of the electric grid capacity available at a specific site. The request can submitted by phone or email. The only information required are the proposed location(s), the peak load of your new project, and the timing of when you need service. The utility will review the information and notify you within three weeks if there is available capacity. If capacity is available, the utilities encourage you to initiate a formal work request for service as soon as practical. If capacity is not available, the utility will need to complete a capacity study to determine the required upgrades to the electric grid, the costs of those upgrades, and the approximate schedule to complete the upgrades.
Connect with Your Utility
The below map includes links to the appropriate utility website on the new service connection process for each town. Towns with multiple utilities should use the below table to find the appropriate link.
The contact information for the state's three investor-owned utilities are listed below:
Contact Information | |
|---|---|
Eversource | MANewService@eversource.com888-633-3797 |
National Grid | workrequest@nationalgrid.com800-375-7405https://gridforce.my.site.com/electric/s/ |
Unitil | cscmail@unitil.com888-301-7700 |
MassSave | Explore Rebates, Offers and Services | Residential | Mass Save |
Search for your Utility by Town
The below table includes links to the appropriate utility website on the new service connection process for each town.
Power Forward Initiative
On January 24, 2026, the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the state’s two largest electric utilities – Eversource and National Grid – announced Power Forward Housing, a new initiative to get housing connected to the electric grid faster. Power Forward will support alignment of Massachusetts’ energy infrastructure with its urgent housing needs by conducting advanced grid studies for municipalities, giving cities and towns a clear pathway to evaluate where new affordable, energy-efficient housing can be built quickly and cost-effectively. Dedicated project managers at the utilities will support municipalities in advancing projects submitted through Power Forward. The Department of Energy Resources (DOER) will support up to 60 advanced grid studies through Power Forward over the next two years for designated municipalities.
A summary of the Power Forward Initiative is available here: Power Forward Housing Initiative Summary
Additional information will be provided on this website and by Eversource and National Grid prior to Power Forward applications being accepted in April 2026.
Electric Connections Improvements Forum
The Electric Connections Improvements Forum brings together the state's utilities, project developers, state agencies, and other stakeholders semi-annually to:
- Share information about the grid connection process and process improvements under development;
- Provide transparency into the state and utilities' work related to grid connections; and,
- Discuss customer experiences with the grid connections process to identify pain points and collectively develop solutions.
The first two Electric Connections Improvements Forums will be held on March 17, 2026, and September 15, 2026, at 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts.
Educational Opportunities + Other Resources
Joint Eversource and National Grid Webinar: New Customer Connections Process
- Target audience: Municipalities
- 1pm on February 6, 2026 (link to come)
Joint Eversource and National Grid Webinar: Online Grid Capacity Maps
- Target audience: individuals looking to learn how to use these maps
- 12pm on February 27, 2026 (link to come)
Joint State, Eversource, and National Grid Webinar: Power Forward Housing Initiative
- Target audience: Municipalities
- Timing (before May 2026) and link to come
More information on the Healey-Driscoll Administration's work to improve the process to connect new customers and new distributed generation resources to the electric grid can be found here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/improving-interconnection-to-the-electric-grid