Best Electricity Rates in Boston 2026: Eversource Basic Service & Suppliers

Boston households pay some of the highest electricity rates in the continental United States, and the supply portion of your Eversource bill is the part you can actually control. As of June 2026, Eversource’s residential Basic Service rate in Eastern Massachusetts — which covers Boston and most surrounding communities — sits at 15.63¢ per kWh. That rate took effect in February 2026 and is locked until the next reset in the late summer. Massachusetts is a deregulated electricity state, so you don’t have to accept Basic Service. This guide explains how Boston’s market works, what the current rates are, and how to shop for a supply rate that holds steady while Basic Service swings.

How Electricity Supply Works in Boston

Massachusetts restructured its electric industry in the late 1990s, splitting the regulated delivery utility from the competitive supply market. In Boston, Eversource owns and operates the distribution network — the wires, transformers, and meters — and is responsible for delivering power and fixing outages. That delivery role is regulated and identical no matter where you buy your supply.

The supply, or generation, side is open to competition. If you don’t choose a competitive supplier, you’re automatically placed on Eversource’s Basic Service, the default supply that the utility procures on your behalf. Basic Service isn’t a deal Eversource designed to save you money — it’s a pass-through of wholesale costs, recalculated every six months for residential customers. That’s why it can lurch up or down dramatically each February and August.

Eversource Basic Service Rate — 2026

The residential Basic Service rate for Boston and Eastern Massachusetts is 15.63¢ per kWh ($0.15629/kWh) as of June 2026, the rate set in the February 2026 adjustment. Because Eversource resets residential Basic Service twice a year, this number is your benchmark only until the next adjustment. Historically, the winter rate (effective each February) tends to run higher than the summer rate because of cold-weather demand and natural gas pricing in New England’s constrained pipeline system.

The volatility is the real problem with Basic Service. A household that does nothing can see its supply rate jump several cents per kWh overnight when the new period begins, with no notice beyond a line on the bill. A competitive fixed-rate plan eliminates that surprise by locking your supply price for the full contract — often 12 to 24 months — straight through multiple Basic Service resets.

Delivery Charges: The Other Half of Your Bill

It’s important to set expectations: switching suppliers only changes the supply portion of your bill. Eversource’s delivery charges — distribution, transmission, the customer charge, and various state-mandated riders — remain on every bill regardless of who supplies your electricity. In Boston, delivery often makes up roughly half of the total bill. So when you shop, you’re competing against the 15.63¢ supply rate, not your entire bill. A supplier that beats Basic Service saves you on supply; it cannot lower your delivery charges.

How to Shop for a Better Boston Electricity Rate

Massachusetts maintains an official state shopping site (Energy Switch Massachusetts) where every licensed competitive supplier must list its offers, and comparison marketplaces aggregate the same plans. Whichever tool you use, the process is the same:

Know your usage. Find your average monthly kWh on your Eversource bill. Boston apartments often use 300–600 kWh a month; single-family homes with electric heat or AC can run far higher. Your usage determines which rate structure actually saves you the most.

Benchmark against 15.63¢. Only a supply rate below the current Basic Service rate saves you money today — but a fixed rate slightly above today’s Basic Service can still win over a full year if you expect the next reset to climb.

Choose fixed, and read the fine print. Lock a fixed rate for 12–24 months. Avoid “introductory” teaser rates that convert to variable pricing, and check for monthly fees and early termination fees before enrolling.

Community Choice Aggregation in the Boston Area

Many Massachusetts municipalities, including communities in and around Boston, run Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) programs. Under CCA, the town or city negotiates a bulk supply rate for all residents, who are enrolled automatically unless they opt out. The City of Boston operates its own Community Choice Electricity program with multiple tiers, including a standard option and greener options with additional renewable content. CCA rates are often competitive with or better than Basic Service and provide more rate stability, but you can still opt out and shop the open market if you find a lower fixed rate or want a longer lock.

Fixed vs. Basic Service vs. CCA

For pure rate stability, a competitive fixed-rate plan is the strongest choice — it locks your supply cost through the volatile February and August resets. For convenience with some stability, the city’s Community Choice program is a solid default that many Boston residents are already enrolled in. The weakest position for budgeting is plain Basic Service, because it reprices every six months and exposes you fully to New England’s winter price spikes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Eversource Basic Service rate in Boston for 2026?
The residential Basic Service rate is 15.63¢ per kWh as of June 2026, set in the February 2026 adjustment and effective until the next reset.

How often does Eversource change its Basic Service rate?
Residential Basic Service is recalculated every six months, with new rates typically taking effect in February and August.

Does switching suppliers lower my delivery charges?
No. Switching only affects the supply portion of your bill. Eversource’s delivery charges stay the same no matter which supplier you choose.

Is it safe to switch electricity suppliers in Boston?
Yes. Eversource continues to deliver your power and handle outages. If a competitive supplier fails, you’re automatically returned to Basic Service without interruption.

What is Community Choice Aggregation?
It’s a program where your city or town negotiates a bulk electricity supply rate for residents, who are enrolled automatically but can opt out. Boston runs its own Community Choice Electricity program.

Should I lock a fixed rate even if it’s slightly above Basic Service today?
Possibly. If you expect the next Basic Service reset to rise — common heading into winter — a fixed rate locked now can save money over the full term even if it’s a touch higher than today’s rate.

How to Cut Your Total Boston Electric Bill

Because delivery makes up roughly half of a Boston electric bill and can’t be shopped, the biggest total-bill wins come from combining a competitive supply rate with usage reductions. New England’s high rates make efficiency unusually valuable here: every kWh you don’t use is one you don’t pay 15.63¢ of supply plus delivery on. Mass Save, the statewide efficiency program funded through a charge already on your bill, offers no-cost home energy assessments, rebates on heat pumps and insulation, and discounted LEDs — money you’re entitled to as a ratepayer.

Two more levers help with budgeting rather than total cost. Eversource’s budget billing spreads your annual cost into even monthly payments so the February supply spike doesn’t blow up a single month’s bill. And shifting heavy loads — laundry, dishwasher, EV charging — to off-peak hours can help if you’re on a time-varying rate. Pair a locked competitive supply rate with a Mass Save assessment and budget billing, and you’ve addressed all three parts of the bill you can actually influence.

Rates cited are current as of June 2026 and reset on Eversource’s semi-annual schedule. Confirm the live Basic Service rate and your delivery charges on your most recent bill before signing a competitive supply contract.