Electric rates have skyrocketed this season in the Northeast. The average residential electricity rate is 23.29 cents/kwh (kilowatt hour), which is about 44% higher than the national average.  Massachusetts’ two largest electricity providers, Eversource and National Grid, raising their rates by as much as 64% at the end of 2022. (National Grid, Eversource Bills Shock Customers – NBC Boston) National Grid is now charging an astonishing 33.891 cents/kwh, and many consumers have seen their costs for the electricity they consume more than double.

Here’s the good news that many consumers don’t know – you have a choice and can select a supplier with much lower rates. The options vary by town or municipality, but generally speaking you can cut your rates by at least half, and sometimes as much as 2/3 of what you are currently being charged. With an average 600 kwh/month (kilowatt hour) usage, that’s a savings of $100-150/month.

Examples:

• A National Grid customer in Pembroke with average use of 600 kwh/month currently pays 33.891 cents/kwh, or $203.35 just for the electricity supplied, separate from the monthly delivery charge. That same consumer can save about $140/month by changing to the Town of Pembroke’s plan with a price of just 10.529 cents/kwh. 

• An Eversource customer in Sharon with the same average use of 600 kwh/month currently pays 25.776 cents/kwh but could save more than $90/month by switching to the Town of Plympton supplier option, lowering their rate to just 10.271 cents/kwh.

• National Grid customers in Quincy or Weymouth can cut their cost per kwh in half by switching to Renaissance, Townsquare, igsenergy or inspire clean energy, saving on average just over $100/month on their electric bill.

Go to https://energyswitchma.gov for a full comparison of all the options, and to see a list of all licensed residential competitive suppliers in Massachusetts.