Overview
Starting November 1, 2025, the 3 electric companies (Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil) will offer new, seasonal heat pump rates to their eligible residential customers. The new offer will be available for residential and residential low-income customers who heat their homes with heat pumps.
These rates are only available to residential customers of the electric companies that have a heat pump used to help heat their home. Heat pump water heaters are not eligible unless they also provide space heating.
The seasonal heat pump rates provide a lower base distribution charge from November 1 through April 30, what is known as the winter heating season here in Massachusetts. Eversource heat pump customers will also pay a lower transmission rate in the winter. The DPU is investigating additional changes to the existing seasonal heat pump rates in docket D.P.U. 25-08.
| Company | Base distribution seasonal heat pump rate | Non-Heat Pump Rate (R-1) | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eversource | $0.01946 per kWh* | $0.06264 per kWh | November 1, 2025 |
| National Grid | $0.02440 per kWh | $0.06677 per kWh | November 1, 2025 |
| Unitil | $0.03633 per kWh | $0.10176 per kWh | November 1, 2025 |
* Eversource's transmission seasonal heat pump rate is $0.01412 per kWh. The transmission rate for a non-heat pump rate for an R-1 customer during that same period is $0.04545 per kWh.
During the remaining months (May – October), customers with heat pumps used for heating will pay the otherwise applicable residential rate, the same rate that all non-heat pump customers pay.
Please refer to your electric company’s website on the standard residential electric rates available in Massachusetts.
The seasonal heat pump rates will have no financial impact on other electric customers: non-heat pump households will not pay more for electricity during the winter because of the new rate.
Once eligible customers are enrolled, the lower rate applies to all household electricity usage from November 1 through April 30 each year, starting winter 2025-2026.
Automatic Enrollment
Eversource, Unitil, and National Grid will automatically enroll customers that received or currently live at a location that received a qualifying heat pump rebate or had a heat pump installed through Mass Save programs since January 1, 2019.
If you qualify for auto-enrollment, your electric company will send you information during the month of October 2025 to let you know that you will be automatically enrolled in the heat pump rate and will have the opportunity to opt-out prior to November 1.
If you wish to opt-out of being enrolled in the new rates, please contact your electric company directly.
Eversource and National Grid recommend that customers who received a Mass Save heat pump program rebate do not attempt to contact them before the auto-enrollment has finished and they have received a notification to opt-out.
Self Enrollment
If you haven’t received a notification but think you qualify, please fill out a self-enrollment form on your electric company’s website.
Online enrollment will be the quickest and most efficient way for these customers to take advantage of these new rates.
In a small percentage of cases, some customers may not be automatically enrolled. Potential reasons for this may include the inability to determine the customer’s current account number due to a change in premise ownership, inability to match a rebate issued by a gas Mass Save Program Administrator to the appropriate electric utility billing account, or receipt of a rebate type that is not eligible.
Eversource
Eversource expects to enroll customers who completed the online self-enrollment form the day after they submit their form and to apply the rate to their current billing cycle. Verification will be completed 45 days following enrollment and customers will be removed from the rate if they are found not to qualify.
National Grid
National Grid expects to make self-enrollment forms available soon and expects to enroll customers on the heat pump rate within a week of enrollment submission and to apply the rate to the customer’s next billing cycle. Final verification will be completed following enrollment and customers will be removed from the rate if they are found not to qualify.
Unitil
Unitil customers who believe they should be on the rate can call the company’s call center now to enroll: 1-888-301-7700 or complete the Contact Customer Service Form indicating that you would like to sign up for the heat pump rate. Unitil customers do not need to provide additional materials in order to enroll in the heat pump rate.
More Information
The Mass Save Program has a Frequently Asked Questions resource with details on the heat pump rates and answers to common questions.
Mass Save also provides a useful guide to identifying your HVAC system if you need help identifying your heating system.
The DPU has an open proceeding to further investigate the heat pump rates in docket D.P.U. 25-08.
Information on the companies’ filings and DPU Orders approving the residential seasonal heat pump rates:
- Eversource's seasonal heat pump rate docket: D.P.U. 25-55
- National Grid's seasonal heat pump rate docket: D.P.U. 23-150
- Unitil's seasonal heat pump rate docket: D.P.U. 23-80/81
Additional Resources
| Date published: | October 31, 2025 |
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