National Grid in Massachusetts: rates, bills and Basic Service
National Grid's 438,150 default-service customers in Massachusetts paid an average of 33.66¢ per kWh in 2025, for an average bill of $163.79 a month on 487 kWh.1 Over the last 12 months (Sep 2025–Aug 2026) the average was 33.86¢, and 33.43¢ in August 2026.2 Another 793,715 homes on its wires (64.4%) buy their supply elsewhere and pay National Grid delivery charges averaging 18.73¢ per kWh, plus their supplier's price.
EIA-861 2025 final (released October 7, 2026) and EIA's monthly utility survey through August 2026 (preliminary); next monthly update expected November 24, 2026. Averages are revenue divided by kWh, all charges included: not the rate printed in a tariff.
12 of 14 Massachusetts counties served (EIA-861 2025)
National Grid's full-service homes in Massachusetts paid an average of 33.66¢ per kWh in 2025, the highest of the state's large utilities and 6th highest of 177 nationally. Yet that price reaches a minority of the homes on its wires: 64.4%1 buy their supply from a competitive supplier or a town aggregation, and pay National Grid for delivery alone.
What a kWh cost National Grid's full-service homes
National Grid, legally Massachusetts Electric Company, sells and delivers electricity to 438,1501 Massachusetts homes that stay on its default supply, which Massachusetts calls Basic Service. EIA reports three averages for those homes, each for a different period:
- 33.66¢ per kWh1 for calendar year 2025, from EIA's final annual survey (EIA-861);
- 33.86¢ per kWh for the 12 months September 2025 to August 2026, from EIA's monthly sample (EIA-861M), with the 2026 months preliminary;
- 33.43¢ per kWh2 for August 20263 alone, also preliminary.
Each is average revenue per kWh: what those customers paid in total, including the customer charge, delivery, the Basic Service supply charge and adjustments, divided by the kWh they used. None of them is a line of the tariff, and a home that uses little electricity pays more per kWh than the average. Homes buying supply from someone else are not in these figures; they are covered further down.
Source: EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility; EIA, Electric Power Monthly / EIA-861M sales and revenue by state. Residential revenue divided by kWh in each month, as reported to EIA's monthly survey (EIA-861M; months since January 2026 preliminary). Bundled (default-service) customers only.
Show the numbers
| Month | National Grid (¢/kWh) | kWh per customer | Bill per customer |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | 33.36¢ | 631 | $210.51 |
| February 2025 | 34.56¢ | 561 | $193.74 |
| March 2025 | 34.15¢ | 475 | $162.17 |
| April 2025 | 35.06¢ | 398 | $139.39 |
| May 2025 | 34.24¢ | 346 | $118.46 |
| June 2025 | 31.20¢ | 465 | $145.05 |
| July 2025 | 31.64¢ | 662 | $209.55 |
| August 2025 | 36.91¢ | 500 | $184.65 |
| September 2025 | 36.20¢ | 400 | $144.85 |
| October 2025 | 34.33¢ | 366 | $125.69 |
| November 2025 | 31.54¢ | 444 | $140.17 |
| December 2025 | 32.15¢ | 593 | $190.82 |
| January 2026 | 33.59¢ | 636 | $213.63 |
| February 2026 | 35.65¢ | 581 | $207.10 |
| March 2026 | 34.61¢ | 500 | $173.16 |
| April 2026 | 36.18¢ | 383 | $138.47 |
| May 2026 | 31.73¢ | 385 | $122.02 |
| June 2026 | 32.12¢ | 472 | $151.46 |
| July 2026 | 35.07¢ | 569 | $199.64 |
| August 2026 | 33.43¢ | 610 | $203.76 |
How National Grid ranks in Massachusetts and New England
Among the 15 Massachusetts utilities with 10,000 or more full-service homes, National Grid's 2025 average was the highest, 10.7% above the Massachusetts average. The lowest, Town of Hudson, averaged 13.14¢ per kWh, a spread of 20.52¢ per kWh. The state's 16 public power systems, municipal light departments, averaged 16.88¢ per kWh together, against 28.80¢ per kWh1 for the investor-owned utilities.
Nationally, National Grid ranked 6th highest of 177 large utilities in 2025 and was 89.3% above the national average for investor-owned utilities. Elsewhere in New England, United Illuminating averaged 35.40¢ per kWh, Versant Power averaged 30.93¢ per kWh and Rhode Island Energy 29.45¢ per kWh1.
Source: EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final. EIA-861 2025 final. Average revenue per kWh is all charges divided by kWh; it is not a tariff rate.
Show the numbers
| Utility | average residential price (bundled customers) |
|---|---|
| Eversource (MA) | 21.49¢ |
| Green Mountain Power (VT) | 23.29¢ |
| Eversource (NH) | 24.17¢ |
| Central Maine Power (ME) | 27.41¢ |
| Eversource (CT) | 28.88¢ |
| Rhode Island Energy (RI) | 29.45¢ |
| Versant Power (ME) | 30.93¢ |
| National Grid (MA) | 33.66¢ |
| United Illuminating (CT) | 35.40¢ |
Bills below the state average, highest in winter
A high price per kWh did not produce a high bill. National Grid's full-service homes used 487 kWh a month in 2025, against 596 kWh for the average Massachusetts home, so their average bill was $163.79 against the state's $181.084. In 2024 the bill was $165.44 for 492 kWh5, so it changed by −1.0%1.
National Grid's season differs from the state's. Across Massachusetts, use per home over the 12 months September 2025 to August 2026 peaked in August 20263. National Grid's full-service homes used the most in January 2026, 636 kWh with an average bill of $213.63, and the least in October 2025, 366 kWh and $125.69. Over the full 12 months the average was $167.49 for 495 kWh2. A household planning a budget should look at the winter months rather than the annual average.
Source: EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility. kWh per residential customer in each month (EIA-861M; months since January 2026 preliminary). The table adds the average bill and price for the month.
Show the numbers
| Month | kWh per customer | Bill per customer | ¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | 400 | $144.85 | 36.20¢ |
| October 2025 | 366 | $125.69 | 34.33¢ |
| November 2025 | 444 | $140.17 | 31.54¢ |
| December 2025 | 593 | $190.82 | 32.15¢ |
| January 2026 | 636 | $213.63 | 33.59¢ |
| February 2026 | 581 | $207.10 | 35.65¢ |
| March 2026 | 500 | $173.16 | 34.61¢ |
| April 2026 | 383 | $138.47 | 36.18¢ |
| May 2026 | 385 | $122.02 | 31.73¢ |
| June 2026 | 472 | $151.46 | 32.12¢ |
| July 2026 | 569 | $199.64 | 35.07¢ |
| August 2026 | 610 | $203.76 | 33.43¢ |
Price changes: flat full service, rising delivery
From 2024 to 2025, the full-service average barely moved: 33.60¢ per kWh5 to 33.66¢ per kWh, a rise of 0.2%1. The 12 months September 2025 to August 2026 came in at 33.86¢ per kWh, close to the annual figure. In August 20263 the average was 33.43¢ per kWh, −9.4%2 against August 2025. That reading is preliminary and a single month, so the 12-month figure is the steadier guide.
The delivery side moved more. For homes that buy supply elsewhere, National Grid's delivery-only average rose from 16.30¢ per kWh5 in 2024 to 18.73¢ per kWh in 2025 (+14.9%1). Full-service homes pay the same kind of delivery charges, but inside their bundled average, which EIA does not split. The guide to rate increases explains how rate decisions reach a bill.
Most homes on its wires buy supply elsewhere
In 2025, 63.6% of Massachusetts residential customers bought supply from a competitive supplier or a municipal aggregation, the highest share among the states. On National Grid's wires the share was 64.4%, or 793,715 of its 1,231,865 residential customers; in Eversource's territory it was 75.9%1.
For those homes EIA reports only what National Grid billed for delivery: 18.73¢ per kWh on average in 2025, or $109.28 a month for 584 kWh1. Their supply charge goes to the supplier or aggregation at whatever price that contract set, and is not in EIA's utility figures. The delivery-only and full-service averages cover different groups of homes and different parts of the bill, so they are shown side by side and never combined.
Compared like for like, National Grid's delivery-only average sat in the middle of New England's large utilities in 2025: below Eversource in Massachusetts (20.06¢ per kWh) and United Illuminating (20.17¢ per kWh), above Rhode Island Energy (16.29¢ per kWh) and Eversource in New Hampshire (14.20¢ per kWh1).
Source: EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final. Delivery charges only: what the utility billed customers who buy supply elsewhere, divided by their kWh. Not comparable with bundled prices.
Show the numbers
| Utility | delivery-only revenue per kWh (residential) |
|---|---|
| Eversource (NH) | 14.20¢ |
| Rhode Island Energy (RI) | 16.29¢ |
| Central Maine Power (ME) | 17.11¢ |
| Eversource (CT) | 18.65¢ |
| National Grid (MA) | 18.73¢ |
| Versant Power (ME) | 19.29¢ |
| Eversource (MA) | 20.06¢ |
| United Illuminating (CT) | 20.17¢ |
The Department of Public Utilities runs Energy Switch Massachusetts, its site for shopping for electric supply. The guide to delivery and supply charges explains the two halves of the bill.
National Grid and Eversource: the gap is in full service
Eversource (legally NSTAR Electric Company) is the state's other large utility, with 1,274,856 residential customers on its wires against National Grid's 1,231,865. The two were close on delivery in 2025: 20.06¢ per kWh at Eversource and 18.73¢ per kWh1 at National Grid, for homes buying supply elsewhere.
Their full-service averages were far apart. In 2024 Eversource's was 29.91¢ per kWh and National Grid's 33.60¢ per kWh5; in 2025 Eversource's fell to 21.49¢ per kWh (−28.2%) while National Grid's held at 33.66¢ per kWh1. Over the 12 months September 2025 to August 2026 the averages were 19.73¢ per kWh at Eversource, 33.86¢ per kWh2 at National Grid. EIA's data show the size of the difference, not its cause. Neither company can be chosen by a customer: the address decides which utility delivers the power.
Solar, meters and outages
Rooftop solar is more common on National Grid's system than in most of the country. Its customers had 114,502 net-metered residential installations in 2025, 93.0 per 1,000 residential customers with 763.2 megawatts of capacity, against 71.9 per 1,000 across Massachusetts (7th highest6 among the states). The net metering guide explains how exported power is credited.
Advanced meters were still a minority: 29.2% of National Grid's residential meters in 2025, against 22.0% statewide, the lowest share among the states. Time-of-use rates need those meters, and only 0.2%6 of Massachusetts homes were on one in 2025.
National Grid's customers averaged 133 minutes without power in 2025 including major storms, more than the Massachusetts average of 122 minutes, and 91 minutes excluding major event days, with 1.00 interruptions per customer. Eversource's customers averaged 113 minutes7. Both report under the IEEE 1366 standard.
Where National Grid delivers, and business customers
EIA's 2025 territory records place National Grid in 12 Massachusetts counties: Barnstable County, Berkshire County, Bristol County, Essex County, Franklin County, Hampden County, Hampshire County, Middlesex County, Norfolk County, Plymouth County, Suffolk County and Worcester County. In every one of them at least one other utility also reports customers, whether Eversource or a town light department; Worcester County alone has 118. A town or ZIP code is not enough to know the utility; National Grid's own service map decides by address.
Source: EIA-861 2025, service territory; Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties. EIA-861 2025 service territory: 12 counties. Counts whole counties even where the utility serves only part of one; check the utility's own service-area map for an address.
Show the numbers
| County | Other utilities reporting service |
|---|---|
| Barnstable County | Eversource |
| Berkshire County | Eversource, Town of Chester |
| Bristol County | Eversource, City of Taunton, Town of North Attleborough, Town of Mansfield |
| Essex County | City of Peabody, Town of Danvers, Town of Marblehead, Town of Ipswich, Town of Middleton, Town of Georgetown, Town of Rowley, Town of Merrimac, Town of Groveland |
| Franklin County | Eversource |
| Hampden County | Eversource, City of Chicopee, City of Westfield, City of Holyoke, Town of Chester, City of Russell |
| Hampshire County | Eversource, Town of South Hadley |
| Middlesex County | Eversource, Town of Reading, Fitchburg Gas & Electric Light Co, Town of Wakefield, Town of Belmont, Town of Hudson, Town of Concord, Town of Littleton, Town of Groton |
| Norfolk County | Eversource, Town of Braintree, City of Norwood, Town of Wellesley |
| Plymouth County | Eversource, Town of Middleborough, City of Hingham, Hull Municipal Light Plant |
| Suffolk County | Eversource |
| Worcester County | Fitchburg Gas & Electric Light Co, Town of Shrewsbury, Town of Holden, Town of Sterling, Town of Templeton, Town of West Boylston, Town of Ashburnham, Town of Boylston, Town of Paxton, Town of Princeton |
Full-service commercial customers paid 25.66¢ per kWh on average in 2025 and industrial customers 22.89¢ per kWh; across all full-service customers the average was 31.32¢ per kWh. Commercial customers on a supplier paid National Grid 10.77¢ per kWh1 for delivery. The same parent runs National Grid in upstate New York, compared on the National Grid page; for the whole state, see electricity in Massachusetts.
National Grid Massachusetts questions
Is Massachusetts Electric the same as National Grid?
Yes. National Grid's Massachusetts distribution utility is legally Massachusetts Electric Company, EIA utility number 11804. Searches for "Massachusetts Electric rates" and "National Grid rates" in the state lead to the same company and the same EIA figures.
What is National Grid's rate per kWh in Massachusetts?
For homes that buy both supply and delivery from National Grid, the average was 33.66¢ per kWh in 2025 and 33.86¢ per kWh2 over the 12 months September 2025 to August 2026 (2026 months preliminary). These are averages of everything billed divided by kWh, not a tariff line. Homes on a supplier or town aggregation paid National Grid 18.73¢ per kWh1 for delivery in 2025, plus their supplier's own charge.
What is the average National Grid electric bill in Massachusetts?
$163.79 a month in 2025 for full-service homes using 487 kWh1, against $181.084 for the average Massachusetts home. Over the 12 months September 2025 to August 2026 it was $167.49, with a high of $213.63 in January 20262.
Did National Grid's Massachusetts rates go up in 2026?
EIA's latest monthly reading is for August 20263: full-service homes paid an average of 33.43¢ per kWh, −9.4%2 against August 2025 (preliminary). For homes that buy supply elsewhere, National Grid's delivery-only average went from 16.30¢ per kWh5 in 2024 to 18.73¢ per kWh in 2025 (+14.9%1).
Related pages
Sources
- EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final; table Sales_Ult_Cust_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility; table sales_ult_cust_2025 and _2026; released October 23, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA, Electric Power Monthly / EIA-861M sales and revenue by state; table sales_revenue.xlsx (EPM Table 5.6.A); January 2001 to 2026-08; months since January 2026 preliminary; released October 23, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, average monthly bill by state; table Average_Bill_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2024 final; table Sales_Ult_Cust_2024; 2024, final (file updated December 3, 2025); released December 3, 2025. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, advanced meters, dynamic pricing and net metering; table Advanced_Meters, Dynamic_Pricing, Net_Metering 2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, reliability; table Reliability_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, service territory; table Service_Territory_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties; table cb_2025_us_county_5m; cb_2021_us_county_5m; 2025 (2021 for Connecticut). www.census.gov
How every figure is built: methodology. Found an error? Write to [email protected]; corrections are listed on the updates page.