Some Mass. residents to get automatic utility bill discounts

BOSTON - Certain Massachusetts families will be getting automatic discounts that could save them hundreds of dollars on utility bills , Gov. Maura Healey announced this week.

Healey said "hundreds of thousands of residents" who have MassHealth, SNAP benefits, Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children or Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children are eligible. The agreement with National Grid, Eversource, Unitil, Liberty, Berkshire Gas will help them save an average of $460 a year on gas and up to $1,058 annually on electricity, according to the state.

Agreement to deliver "significant savings"

"Far too many Massachusetts residents struggle to cover the high costs of gas and electric bills, especially as we head into the winter months," Healey said in a statement. "We are proud to deliver this landmark agreement that will automatically deliver significant savings for hundreds of thousands of households across the state."

The state says this means those customers will get discounts "without individuals having to submit additional paperwork." For eligible National Grid customers, it could mean savings of nearly 71% when a tiered discount program goes into effect before the end of the year.

"Automatic enrollment in utility bill discounts unlocks additional customer benefits and is a welcome convenience for vulnerable populations across the Commonwealth," National Grid chief customer officer Bill Malee said in a statement.

CBS News reported last month that the cost of electricity has risen from 14 cents per kilowatt hour in 2019 to 18 cents per kilowatt hour this year, an increase of more than 28.5%. More Americans are having to choose between food and energy bills , with the average utility bill in the country hitting nearly $300 a month in 2024.