Two ways Eversource customers buy their power
Basic Service, the default supply
Eversource sets a Basic Service supply rate that resets every six months, about 15 cents per kWh for early 2026. Only about 383,000 of its 1.3 million residential customers are still on it. Combined with delivery, this is the roughly 30 cent all-in rate.
Municipal aggregation or a competitive supplier
Most Eversource households now get supply through a town aggregation or a third-party supplier and pay Eversource only for delivery. Your delivery charges and your net metering work the same either way, so only the supply price differs.
How Eversource MA rates climbed 44 percent
Eversource Energy (Massachusetts)'s average residential electricity price has risen from 21.13 cents per kWh in 2015 to 30.5 cents in 2025, an increase of about 44 percent, or roughly 3.7 percent per year. The chart shows Eversource's average residential price by year. Hover any point for the exact figure.
Current residential rates
Eversource residential rates are shown below, from the utility's published tariffs and the public Utility Rate Database. Rates vary by plan, season, and usage and change over time.
| Plan | Energy charge | Fixed / basic |
|---|---|---|
| Residential (R-1), Basic Service | About 30 cents/kWh all-in. Basic Service supply is 15.065 cents/kWh effective February 1 to July 31, 2026 and resets every six months, plus delivery of roughly 13 to 15 cents/kWh covering distribution, transmission, and Mass Save and renewable riders. | $10.00/month customer charge |
This is the eastern Massachusetts (NSTAR East) residential rate. Massachusetts is deregulated: delivery is regulated by the Department of Public Utilities, while Basic Service supply resets twice a year (February 1 and August 1 for residential) and customers may instead buy supply from a competitive supplier or municipal aggregation. Confirm current pricing on Eversource's rate pages before making decisions.
Why Massachusetts net metering still favors solar
Massachusetts keeps relatively favorable residential net metering. Class I systems (residential, up to 25 kW) net meter at close to the full retail rate: solar offsets usage one for one, and net monthly excess becomes a bill credit valued near full retail that carries forward month to month. Residential systems up to 25 kW are exempt from the net metering cap as of February 2025, and net metering credits stack with the separate state SMART production incentive. The Department of Public Utilities opened a review of net metering credit valuation in December 2025, but no changes have been ordered.
High rates plus friendly net metering
Eversource combines two things that both help solar: high and rising rates, near 30 cents per kWh and up 44 percent in a decade, and unusually favorable net metering. Massachusetts still credits residential exports at close to the full retail rate, which most states have moved away from.
On top of net metering, Massachusetts runs the separate SMART program, which pays a production incentive that stacks with your bill credits. That mix of a high rate, retail-level export credit, and an added incentive is one of the stronger solar cases in the country, though the value still depends on your roof and usage, so get a site-specific quote.
Eversource service area
Eversource serves Eastern and central Massachusetts including Greater Boston (Boston, Cambridge, Newton, Framingham) and southeastern Massachusetts (New Bedford), plus western Massachusetts around Springfield, the former Western Massachusetts Electric territory that merged into NSTAR Electric d/b/a Eversource at the end of 2017..
To confirm whether a specific address is served by Eversource, check your electricity bill. A ZIP lookup tool is coming to this site.
What rising Eversource rates could cost you
Eversource rates have risen about 3.7% per year. Enter your bill to see what that pace of increase could compound to over time, and what you have likely already absorbed. This is an estimate, not a guarantee.
Estimate only. Projects your current bill forward at Eversource's historical average rate increase (3.7% per year, from EIA data); it assumes your usage stays the same except for any add-ons you select. Actual rates depend on your usage, rate plan, and the utility's future filings, and are not guaranteed. This is general information, not financial advice.
Full data and sources
Per-utility prices are computed from EIA Form 861 (bundled residential revenue divided by sales), which reconciles to the EIA's published figures. These are public-domain U.S. government data.
| Year | Eversource (c/kWh) |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 21.13 |
| 2016 | 20.18 |
| 2017 | 21.03 |
| 2018 | 23.06 |
| 2019 | 22.53 |
| 2020 | 22.39 |
| 2021 | 24.25 |
| 2022 | 29.31 |
| 2023 | 29.66 |
| 2024 | 29.91 |
| 2025 | 30.5 |
Sources: EIA Form 861, Sales to Ultimate Customers (2015 to 2024) · Eversource R-1 residential tariff (M.D.P.U. No. 7) · Mass.gov, Department of Public Utilities net metering program · Massachusetts SMART solar program
FAQ
How much have Eversource Massachusetts rates gone up?
Eversource's average full-service residential price in eastern Massachusetts rose from about 21 cents per kWh in 2015 to about 30 cents in 2025, an increase of roughly 44 percent, per EIA Form 861 data.
Does Eversource Massachusetts have net metering?
Yes, and it is relatively favorable. Residential Class I systems up to 25 kW net meter at close to the full retail rate, and as of February 2025 residential systems up to 25 kW are exempt from the net metering cap. Net metering credits also stack with the state SMART incentive.
Why is my Eversource supply rate different from my neighbor's?
Massachusetts is deregulated. Some customers stay on Eversource Basic Service, which resets every six months, while most now buy supply through a municipal aggregation or a competitive supplier. Delivery charges and net metering are the same for everyone; only the supply price differs.
Is solar worth it with Eversource in Massachusetts?
The combination of high rates, near-retail net metering, and the SMART incentive makes Massachusetts one of the more solar-friendly markets. The value still depends on your usage, roof, and system size, so get a site-specific quote rather than a general estimate.