Massachusetts Electricity Suppliers by Utility Territory: Eversource vs National Grid vs Unitil (2026)

Massachusetts lets residents choose a competitive electricity supplier, but the offers available to you and the default “Basic Service” price you’re compared against depend on which utility delivers power to your home. The state also has an unusually active municipal aggregation scene, so knowing both your utility and whether your town aggregates is key to shopping intelligently.

How Massachusetts Electricity Choice Works

Massachusetts deregulated its electricity market in the late 1990s. The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) regulates the program, and the state offers a comparison resource (Energy Switch Massachusetts). When you pick a competitive supplier, only the supply portion of your bill changes. Your utility still delivers electricity, maintains the wires, and handles outages, and its delivery charges remain regulated no matter who supplies you.

If you don’t shop, you’re on Basic Service, the default supply rate your utility procures through wholesale solicitations. Residential Basic Service prices typically change every six months (and commercial rates more often). Like other New England states, Massachusetts Basic Service prices have swung sharply with natural gas costs, especially in winter — which is the main reason to consider locking a fixed competitive rate.

Massachusetts Electric Utility Territories

Three investor-owned utilities deliver electricity across Massachusetts.

Eversource Energy

Eversource is the largest electric utility in Massachusetts, serving much of eastern Massachusetts including Greater Boston (the former NSTAR territory) as well as parts of western Massachusetts (the former Western Massachusetts Electric Company). It serves well over 1.4 million electric customers, so Eversource territory has the broadest selection of competitive suppliers.

National Grid

National Grid serves central, northeastern, and southeastern Massachusetts — including Worcester, the North Shore, and the South Coast — roughly 1.3 million electric customers. National Grid sets its own Basic Service rate and delivery charges, distinct from Eversource’s.

Unitil (Fitchburg Gas and Electric)

Unitil is the smallest electric utility in the state, serving the Fitchburg area in north-central Massachusetts. Its territory is compact, so fewer competitive offers are available, but the same shopping rules apply.

Municipal Aggregation: A Massachusetts Wrinkle

Massachusetts is a leader in municipal (community) electricity aggregation. Many cities and towns negotiate a bulk supply rate on behalf of all residents and automatically enroll them (with an opt-out). If your town aggregates, you may already be on a community rate instead of Basic Service — and that’s the price a competitive offer needs to beat. Before switching to an individual supplier, check whether your town’s aggregation rate is already lower, and remember you can opt out of aggregation without penalty if a better individual plan exists.

Comparing Suppliers in Your Massachusetts Territory

Find your utility — Eversource, National Grid, or Unitil — on your bill, and note your current supply rate per kWh (whether that’s Basic Service or a municipal aggregation rate). Then compare fixed-rate offers by price, term, and cancellation fee. Because Basic Service resets every six months and spikes in winter, a fixed rate locked ahead of the cold season can deliver meaningful savings and budget certainty.

Be wary of variable-rate plans and door-to-door pitches; Massachusetts regulators have flagged competitive supply marketing practices in the past. Stick to licensed suppliers and read the contract summary.

Supply vs. Delivery: What You Actually Control

Every electricity bill in a deregulated market splits into two halves, and understanding the split is what makes shopping pay off. The delivery (or distribution) charge covers moving electricity over the poles and wires to your home, plus metering, billing, and storm restoration. In Massachusetts that’s Eversource, National Grid, or Unitil. These charges are set by regulators and are identical whether you shop or not — no competitive supplier can lower them.

The supply (or generation) charge covers the actual electricity you consume. This is the only part of your bill open to competition. When you compare suppliers, you’re comparing this per-kWh generation price — typically the largest single line item on a bill in a high-usage month. Lowering it by even one or two cents per kWh adds up quickly for a household using 800–1,200 kWh a month, and the savings compound over a full contract term.

This is also why a flashy “X% off” claim can mislead: a discount only applies to the supply portion, not your whole bill. Always compare the actual price per kWh, not a headline percentage.

Who Benefits Most From Shopping

Not every household saves the same amount by switching, and being honest about that helps you set expectations. The biggest winners are typically:

High-usage homes. If you have electric heat, central air, a pool pump, an EV, or simply a large house, your supply charge is a big number — so a lower per-kWh rate produces real dollar savings every month.

Households currently on a variable or expired rate. If your introductory rate has rolled over to a variable “month-to-month” price, you may be paying well above market without realizing it. These are the customers who most often find double-digit monthly savings by locking a fixed rate.

Anyone who values budget certainty. Even if a fixed rate only matches your default price today, locking it shields you from the next seasonal spike. For people on fixed incomes or tight monthly budgets, that predictability is worth as much as the headline rate.

Lower-usage apartments and condos save less in absolute dollars, but the same shopping principles apply — and avoiding a runaway variable rate still matters.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Chasing the lowest teaser rate. The cheapest rate on a comparison list is often an introductory price that converts to a much higher variable rate after one or two billing cycles. Read whether the rate is fixed for the full term.

Ignoring the early termination fee. If you might move or want flexibility, a contract with a steep cancellation fee can erase your savings. Match the term to how long you’ll realistically stay.

Auto-renewing without checking. Many contracts roll into a variable month-to-month rate when they end. Mark your contract’s expiration date and re-shop before it lapses.

Forgetting to compare against your real benchmark. Your savings are measured against your current supply rate — your default/standard price or your existing contract — not against some national average. Pull a recent bill and use your own number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does switching suppliers affect who restores my power?

No. Eversource, National Grid, or Unitil still owns the wires and handles outages. A competitive supplier only changes the supply charge on your bill.

What is Basic Service in Massachusetts?

Basic Service is the default supply rate for customers who don’t shop. Your utility procures it through wholesale solicitations, and residential rates typically reset every six months — often spiking in winter.

What is municipal aggregation and does it affect me?

Many Massachusetts towns negotiate a bulk electricity supply rate and automatically enroll residents (with an opt-out option). If your town aggregates, you may already be on that rate instead of Basic Service. Check your bill and your town’s program before switching.

Will switching to a supplier give me two bills?

No. Massachusetts uses consolidated billing, so your utility bills you for delivery and your supplier’s generation on one statement.

Which utility serves my Massachusetts address?

Eversource covers Greater Boston and parts of western Massachusetts; National Grid covers central, northeastern, and southeastern areas; Unitil serves the Fitchburg area. Your bill names the utility, and your ZIP maps to a territory.

Should I lock a fixed rate in Massachusetts?

Often yes, because Basic Service prices swing sharply with winter gas costs. Compare a fixed competitive rate (or your town’s aggregation rate) against the current Basic Service price before committing.

Bottom Line for Massachusetts Shoppers

Your Massachusetts utility — Eversource, National Grid, or Unitil — sets your delivery charges and your Basic Service benchmark, while your town’s aggregation program may already give you a competitive rate. Identify your utility, check whether you’re aggregated, note your current supply price, and lock a fixed-rate plan if it beats it before the next winter reset.