Massachusetts Heat Pump Winter Electric Rate Starts Nov. 1: Who Qualifies and How to Enroll (2026)

By Romario Lela, Lela Homelife · Last updated: October 27, 2026

The short answer: If you heat your home with a heat pump and you're a residential customer of National Grid, Eversource or Unitil, you can pay a lower electric rate from November 1 through April 30. If you got a Mass Save heat pump rebate in 2019 or later, you're probably already enrolled. If not, you apply with your utility. A heat pump water heater by itself does not qualify.

Not sure if you're on the rate, or if a heat pump makes sense for your house? Call 774-228-5351. We're open weekdays 8 AM–6 PM and Sundays 8 AM–3 PM. Or get a free estimate online.

What the rate is

It's a winter discount on your electric bill. From November 1 through April 30, you pay lower delivery charges (distribution and transmission). It applies to all the electricity in your house, not just the heat pump. From May to October, you pay the regular rate (Mass.gov).

It also doesn't raise rates for neighbors without a heat pump, according to the state.

On National Grid, the base distribution charge is about 2.476¢ per kWh for enrolled homes, compared with 6.777¢ on the standard rate (The Duck Curve). Winter transmission is cut too, from about 5.5¢ to under 1¢ per kWh through February.

Who qualifies

You can get the rate if:

• You're a residential customer of Eversource, National Grid or Unitil.
• You use a heat pump to heat all or part of your home.
• Your electric account is in your name (National Grid asks for this).

Good to know:

• A heat pump water heater alone does not qualify (Andover Ledger).
• Electric baseboards, space heaters and electric furnaces don't count either, says Eversource.
• A heat pump used only for cooling doesn't count.
• Eversource says homes with solar can still enroll, though the savings may be smaller.

How to get it

Option 1: Auto-enrollment. If your home got a qualifying Mass Save heat pump rebate on or after January 1, 2019, you're enrolled automatically. That includes people who live in the home now but didn't get the rebate themselves. You don't need to do anything. If you're already enrolled, the new winter rate starts Nov. 1 on its own (Mass.gov).

Option 2: Apply. Do this if your heat pump went in before 2019, or you didn't get a Mass Save rebate, or you're not sure.

• National Grid: apply online. You'll need your account number, service address, and one proof, like an installer invoice, a Mass Save rebate letter, or a photo of the outdoor unit's model and serial number. Enrollment takes about a week, and the rate starts the next billing cycle.
• Eversource: apply online with similar proof. The utility checks your eligibility within 45 days.
• Unitil: call 1-888-301-7700. You don't need to send documents.

How much it can save

Savings depend on how much electricity you use. Bigger systems and colder months mean bigger savings.

• National Grid's own examples: about $71 off a November bill for a home with a 3-ton heat pump, and about $144 off a January bill for a 5-ton system (The Duck Curve).
• Eversource: enrolled customers paid about $430 less last winter, around $72 a month (Eversource).
• Statewide: last winter, heat pump customers paid about 5¢ less per kWh on distribution than customers without one (Mass.gov).

These are examples, not promises. Your bill is your bill. For what this means next to your oil costs, see our post on heating oil vs. heat pump running cost.

Why it pairs with the Mass Save rebate deadline

A Mass Save rebate is the usual way into the rate. Get the rebate, and your utility enrolls you.

The rebate is $2,650 per ton, up to $8,500, for systems installed by December 31, 2026. On or after January 1, 2027, it drops to $2,350 per ton, capped at $7,500 (Mass Save). The winter rate runs through April 30, so a fall install can use the rate this same season.

Mass Save's budget is being debated on Beacon Hill. Nothing has passed, so we can't say how it ends (CommonWealth Beacon). The dates above are what's on the books today.

For an average Central Massachusetts oil-to-heat-pump conversion, we estimate about $22,000–$23,000 before incentives. That's an estimate, not a quote. Mass Save also offers 75–100% off insulation and a 0% HEAT Loan up to $25,000.

Three tips

• Check your bill in November. Look for a heat pump rate or a lower distribution line. If you can't tell, call your utility.
• Look for the confirmation. National Grid says it confirms auto-enrollment by email, text or letter.
• Save your paperwork. Keep your install invoice and rebate letter. You need one of them if you have to apply.

FAQ

Does a heat pump water heater qualify?

Not by itself. You need a heat pump that heats your home, all or part of it.

Do I have to enroll every year?

No. Once you're enrolled, the rate comes back each November.

Does the discount apply to just my heat pump's electricity?

No. It applies to all the electricity you use from November through April.

Can I get the rate if I installed a heat pump before 2019?

Yes. You won't be auto-enrolled, but you can apply with your utility and show proof of the install.

Will my bill go down?

Your rate goes down. Your bill can still go up if a heat pump adds electric use. The aim is for your heating savings to beat the extra electricity.

Get a straight answer for your house

If you're weighing a heat pump before the rebate drops, bring us a recent electric bill and your heating receipts. We'll give you an honest estimate of the cost after Mass Save, and tell you if waiting, insulating first, or keeping your boiler is the better move.

Call 774-228-5351, open weekdays 8 AM–6 PM and Sundays 8 AM–3 PM, or get your free estimate. You can also book your no-cost Mass Save Home Energy Assessment or read more about our HVAC services.