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Massachusetts utilities offer discounted winter electric rates for verified heat pump households. Save 15-25% on your winter electricity bill — $200-$600 per season. This guide covers Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil programs, how to qualify, and how the rate interacts with solar net metering.
Massachusetts utilities offer a 15-25% discount on winter electricity for verified heat pump households. Instead of paying $0.30-$0.33/kWh, you pay $0.23-$0.28/kWh during winter months. Eversource offers the largest discount (~20-25%) from December through March. National Grid offers ~15-20% from November through April (longer period). To qualify, you need a cold-climate ENERGY STAR heat pump as your primary heating source, a contractor verification letter, and a utility application. Typical savings: $200-$600 per winter season.
Massachusetts has among the highest electricity rates in the country ($0.27-$0.33/kWh), which makes the economics of heat pump heating a common concern. To address this barrier, all three major Massachusetts utilities — Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil — offer special discounted winter electricity rates for households with verified heat pump installations.
The concept is straightforward: if you heat your home with an efficient heat pump instead of oil, propane, or natural gas, your utility rewards you with a lower electricity rate during the winter heating months. The discount ranges from 15-25% off the standard residential rate, depending on your utility.
What makes this program particularly valuable is that the discounted rate typically applies to all electricity consumption during winter months, not just heat pump usage. So your lights, appliances, EV charging, and everything else also benefits from the lower rate during December through March (or November through April for National Grid).
The rate programs are part of Massachusetts' broader electrification strategy under the 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap. By making electric heating more affordable, the state incentivizes the transition from fossil fuel heating systems to efficient heat pumps. Combined with Mass Save rebates ($1,250-$10,000 for heat pump installation), the economics are compelling.
Each Massachusetts utility runs its own heat pump rate program with different discount levels, eligibility criteria, and winter periods. Here's a detailed breakdown of all three programs.
Verified cold-climate heat pump installation, must be primary heating source
Online application + contractor verification letter + smart meter required
Rate applies to ALL winter consumption, not just heat pump usage. Credits valued at standard rate for net metering customers.
ENERGY STAR certified heat pump, Mass Save QPL listed, completed energy assessment
Apply through National Grid website + Mass Save contractor verification + meter upgrade
Longer winter period (Nov-Apr vs Dec-Mar). Net metering credits valued at discounted rate during winter months — important consideration for solar owners.
Cold-climate rated heat pump, Unitil territory, completed home energy assessment
Contact Unitil directly, contractor verification, may require separate meter
Smaller service territory (Fitchburg area). Some customers may need a separate meter for heat pump circuits, which adds installation cost but can provide better rate.
| Metric | Eversource | National Grid | Unitil |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard residential rate (winter) | $0.30-$0.33 | $0.30-$0.32 | $0.31-$0.33 |
| Heat pump winter rate | $0.23-$0.25 | $0.25-$0.27 | $0.26-$0.28 |
| Estimated monthly savings (Dec-Mar) | $75-$150 | $50-$113 | $38-$88 |
| Winter period | Dec-Mar (4 mo) | Nov-Apr (6 mo) | Dec-Mar (4 mo) |
Eversource offers a larger per-kWh discount (~20-25%) but for a shorter period (4 months: Dec-Mar). National Grid offers a smaller per-kWh discount (~15-20%) but for a longer period (6 months: Nov-Apr). For most households, Eversource's program produces higher total savings because the deepest winter months (Dec-Mar) account for 70-80% of heating electricity. However, National Grid's November and April coverage adds value for homes in colder Western MA areas where heating extends into those shoulder months.
Bottom line: If you have a battery, TOU rates may provide higher total savings year-round. If you don't have a battery and can't easily shift consumption to off-peak hours, the heat pump winter rate is the safer, simpler choice. You cannot combine both — choose one rate structure.
Schedule a free home energy assessment through Mass Save (required for most utility HP rate programs). The assessor evaluates insulation, air sealing, and heating systems. This is often a prerequisite for heat pump rebates too.
Your heat pump must be ENERGY STAR certified and cold-climate rated (operates efficiently at 5 degrees F or below). It must be on the Mass Save Qualified Products List (QPL). Most Mitsubishi, Fujitsu, Daikin, and Carrier cold-climate models qualify.
Your heat pump installer provides a verification letter confirming the model, capacity, and that it serves as a primary heating source. This letter is submitted with your rate application.
Apply through your utility website or customer service. Include the contractor verification letter, heat pump model number, and installation date. Eversource and National Grid have online portals; Unitil may require phone or mail.
Some programs require a smart meter to track usage patterns. If your home has an older analog meter, the utility will schedule a free upgrade. Unitil customers may need a separate meter for heat pump circuits.
The heat pump winter rate is in addition to Mass Save heat pump rebates. You can receive $1,250-$10,000 in installation rebates (up to $16,000 income-eligible), finance through the 0% HEAT loan, AND get the discounted winter electric rate. The rebate reduces upfront cost, the HEAT loan eliminates interest, and the winter rate reduces ongoing operating cost. Stack all three for maximum savings.
If you have both solar panels and a heat pump, the interaction between the winter rate and net metering is a critical detail that many guides overlook. The answer depends on your utility.
Eversource: Net metering credits are valued at the standard residential rate, not the discounted heat pump rate. This creates a favorable arbitrage: your solar credits are worth $0.30-$0.33/kWh while your consumption costs only $0.23-$0.25/kWh. Effectively, each kWh of solar credit is worth 20-30% more than the electricity you consume — making the HP rate a clear win for solar owners.
National Grid: Net metering credits during winter months may be valued at the discounted rate, reducing the per-kWh value of your solar credits during November through April. This means your solar production generates less credit value during winter. For homes with large solar arrays that over-produce in summer and bank credits for winter, this could reduce the net metering benefit. Request written confirmation from National Grid before enrolling.
Unitil: Similar to National Grid — confirm credit valuation before enrolling. The smaller territory and customer base means policies can change with less notice.
Credits valued at standard rate, consumption at discounted rate. Win-win.
If winter credits valued at HP rate, calculate net impact before enrolling.
Contact Unitil for written confirmation of how credits interact with HP rate.
The heat pump winter electric rate is a discounted electricity rate offered by Massachusetts utilities (Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil) to households with verified heat pump installations. Instead of paying the standard residential rate of $0.30-$0.33/kWh during winter, qualifying households pay $0.23-$0.28/kWh — a 15-25% discount. The rate applies during the winter heating months (typically December through March, or November through April for National Grid) and is designed to encourage heat pump adoption and reduce fossil fuel heating.
Savings depend on your utility, home size, and heating load. A typical 2,000 sq ft home with a heat pump using 1,800 kWh/month in winter saves $75-$150/month on Eversource, $50-$113/month on National Grid, and $38-$88/month on Unitil. Over the full winter season, that translates to $200-$600 in total savings. The discount applies to ALL electricity usage during winter months — not just the heat pump consumption — which maximizes the benefit.
Yes. Your heat pump must be ENERGY STAR certified, cold-climate rated (efficient operation at 5 degrees F or below), and listed on the Mass Save Qualified Products List (QPL). Most Mitsubishi Hyper-Heat, Fujitsu XLTH, Daikin Aurora/Fit, Carrier Greenspeed, and Bosch IDS models qualify. Standard (non-cold-climate) heat pumps and window heat pumps do not qualify. The heat pump must be your primary heating source — supplemental-only installations may not be eligible.
This is a critical nuance. For Eversource customers, net metering credits are valued at the standard residential rate, not the discounted heat pump rate — meaning your solar credits are worth MORE than your winter consumption cost, creating an additional arbitrage benefit. For National Grid, net metering credits during winter months may be valued at the discounted rate, which slightly reduces the value of your solar credits during those months. Ask your utility for written confirmation of how net metering credits interact with the heat pump rate.
The winter rate period varies by utility. Eversource applies the rate from December through March (4 months). National Grid has a longer period from November through April (6 months), making it more valuable despite a slightly smaller per-kWh discount. Unitil applies December through March. During the remaining months, you return to the standard residential rate. The rate applies to your entire electricity bill, not just heat pump-specific usage.
In most cases, no — you must choose either the heat pump winter rate OR a TOU rate plan. They are mutually exclusive rate structures. However, for some households, TOU rates may actually provide better savings than the flat heat pump discount, especially if you have a battery that can shift consumption to off-peak hours. Compare both options: if your utility offers a TOU rate with off-peak rates below $0.20/kWh, and you can shift 60%+ of usage to off-peak, TOU may win. Otherwise, the heat pump winter rate is simpler and more predictable.
From heat pump installation to rate approval typically takes 4-8 weeks. The process involves: getting a contractor verification letter (same-day), submitting the utility application (1-2 weeks for processing), and possibly a smart meter installation (2-4 weeks if needed). Plan to apply well before winter — the ideal time to submit is September or October so your discounted rate is active by December. You cannot retroactively claim the discount for months before approval.
It depends on your utility. Eversource generally requires the heat pump to be the primary heating source, which means whole-home or at least majority of heating load. National Grid has similar requirements. If you have a single mini-split that heats one room while oil or gas heats the rest, you likely will not qualify. However, if your heat pump system covers 60-80%+ of your heating needs with fossil fuel as backup only, you may qualify. The contractor verification letter is key — your installer documents that the heat pump serves as the primary heating system.
General guide to heat pump rate programs across MA.
Compare utility rate structures for solar and heat pump owners.
Real monthly running costs by system size and home type.
How heat pump costs differ by season in Massachusetts.
Get a free heat pump quote from NuWatt. We'll help you choose a qualifying cold-climate system, handle the Mass Save rebate application, and guide you through the winter rate enrollment process.