Massachusetts residential utility customers to see bill reductions, but there is a catch

There’s a major temporary utility bill relief program in Massachusetts for the winter of 2026, announced by Governor Maura Healey in late January. It provides reductions on residential electric and natural gas bills specifically for February and March 2026, but there is a catch.

Residential electric customers of major utilities (including Eversource, National Grid, Unitil, Berkshire Gas, and Liberty) will see a 25% reduction on electricity usage from February 1 to March 31, 2026. This is labeled as the “MA Winter Bill Relief” credit on bills.

About 15% of this reduction is funded using $180 million from the state. The remaining 10% is a deferral. Utilities will cover it temporarily and recover it from customers later during non-peak usage.

Estimated savings is approximately $60 per month for average usage, though it varies by household and billing cycle. Credits prorate based on days in February/March, e.g., if your cycle spans January/February, only post-Feb 1 usage gets the discount.

Natural gas customers will see a 10% reduction for gas usage in the same period. This is largely a deferral. Utilities will recover the deferred amounts from most customers during the off-peak months from May through October 2026 when heating bills are lower. The exception is Liberty Gas customers who do not recover deferred amounts. No repayment is required.

Estimated savings is approximately $27 per month for average usage.

Many utilities, including Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil, plan to charge interest on deferred portions up to the prime rate, currently 6.75%.