Reduced Heat Pump Electricity Rates Available for Households Across State
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration joined with Eversource, National Grid and Unitil to raise awareness about new electric heat pump rates as the winter heating season begins.
Governor Maura Healey called for expanded heat pump rates in her Energy Affordability Agenda announced in March. Starting this winter, the seasonal reduced rates are available to residential customers of the three major utilities who heat their homes with heat pumps, one of the most efficient forms of heating.
Over 100,000 customers who have installed heat pumps after Jan. 1, 2019, and received a Mass Save incentive were automatically enrolled in the heat pump rate, starting Nov. 1, 2025. Close collaboration between Eversource, National Grid and Unitil – under the direction of the Healey-Driscoll Administration – has made this benefit possible.
"We're delivering more energy cost savings this winter – and more than 100,000 people will see their bills reduced starting this month," said Governor Maura Healey. "Earlier this year, I called on the DPU to find solutions that lower costs for residents, and the approval of this heat pump rate is a strong example of that work in action. But we need to do more, which is why I filed energy affordability legislation to get more costs off bills and bring more energy into Massachusetts."
Autoenrollment Process
The reduced rate will be in effect for qualifying customers Nov. 1 through April 30. During the summer months, heat pump customers will have the same rate as non-heat pump customers.???
Eversource, National Grid and Unitil residential electric customers who installed a heat pump through a Mass Save program after Jan. 1, 2019, are automatically enrolled in the heat pump rate and should have received written notification from their respective utility by this past Saturday, Nov 1.
Customers who use a heat pump but did not receive this notification, likely because they did not install their heat pumps through the Mass Save program or installed one before Jan. 1, 2019, should visit their electric utility's heat pump rate webpage for details and enrollment information:
Eversource: eversource.com/heat-pump-rate?
National Grid: ngrid.com/heatpumprate?
Unitil: unitil.com/ma-heat-pump-rate?
How It Works
A heat pump is a heating and cooling system that moves heat indoors in the winter and draws heat outdoors in the summer. Because they transfer heat, rather than generating it, heat pumps can be up to three times as energy efficient as conventional boilers or furnaces. An air-source heat pump – the most common type of heat pump – can reduce your electricity use for heating by up to 75 percent compared to electric resistance heating, such as baseboard heaters. High-efficiency heat pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, resulting in less energy usage and more comfort in summer months.
These seasonal rates are lower than the standard base distribution rates from the electric utilities. The new rates for heat pump households will have no financial impact on other electric customers: non-heat pump households will not pay more for electricity this winter because of the new rate.
For more information about the heat pump rate, visit MassSave.com/heat-pump-rate.
Massachusetts residents interested in upgrading to clean, all-in-one heating and cooling solutions are encouraged to take advantage of affordable, energy-efficient heat pumps and the new seasonal heat pump rate for their homes. Learn more at MassSave.com/heatpump.
