Massachusetts Utility Cost Calculator

A supplier market that sells to homes

Massachusetts has the third-largest energy-only share of retail sales among the states (68% in 2024), and unlike most choice states, suppliers sell heavily to households: energy-only providers had about 1.9 million accounts, nearly twice the investor-owned utilities’ 1.0 million, and Direct Energy Services alone sold 3.8 TWh to homes — more than Massachusetts Electric (3.1 TWh) or NSTAR Electric (2.1 TWh) as full-service utilities. The investor-owned utilities still own the wires and answer to the Department of Public Utilities; 40 public entities serve 15% of the market.

High prices, modest use

The residential price of 30.43¢ per kWh over the last 12 months was the third-highest in the country, and gas was costly too at $2.431 per therm in 2025, also third-highest. Homes use little electricity — about 599 kWh a month — because 53% heat with gas and 24% with oil. Electric bills peak in summer ($224.86 in July 2026) and are lowest in spring.

Massachusetts imports most of its power: it generated 21 TWh in 2024 against 49 TWh of sales. In-state generation is 76% natural gas, led by the Fore River station, with solar at 10%. About 190,000 homes had net-metered systems, sixth-most in the country, yet only 9% of residential meters were advanced meters.

Heating oil and help with bills

About 26% of homes use heating oil, averaging 619 gallons a year in the 2020 survey — third-highest among the 17 states where EIA could publish the figure. The last weekly SHOPP prices of the 2025–26 season were $5.742 for oil and $3.649 for propane. Home energy assistance is coordinated by the state’s Division of Community Services.