CFREE Tip #10: Help with Winter Electricity Bills

1. Eversource Heat Pump Rate

A quick reminder: Households with one or more heat pumps are eligible for a heat pump rate from Eversource, who estimates that it can save you close to 20% on your electricity bill. (Heat pump water heaters by themselves do not qualify.) We announced this back in November, but if you missed that and haven’t signed up (or been signed up automatically) it’s very easy to do so. Just go to https://www.eversource.com/residential/account-billing/manage-bill/about-your-bill/rates-tariffs/heat-pump-rate

If you’re not sure if you’re getting this rate, look at the section of your Eversource bill where the delivery costs are shown. Look for “R1HP-Residential Heat Pump” shown on the attached excerpt from a sample bill.

If you have a heat pump but your current rate is R1 or R3, you should ask to be changed to the R1HP-Residential Heat Pump rate, which is lower than either.

2. Winter Bill Relief

And in case you missed the January 23 email from Eversource, there’s a two-month rate reduction ahead, regardless of whether or not you have heat pumps. Note that the relief described will not cover bills for our very cold January. Here’s what they wrote:

“Bill Relief for Winter Electric Use”

“We understand that managing higher electric bills alongside other rising expenses has been challenging. As part of ongoing efforts to reduce energy costs, the Healey-Driscoll Administration is providing $180 million in funding to help reduce your electric bills this winter. For your electricity use from Feb. 1, 2026, to March 31, 2026, the rate you pay will be reduced by 25%. Working collaboratively with our regulator and other utilities in Massachusetts, we have adjusted rates down in recognition of the sustained cold weather that has caused electric bills to be higher than this time last year, putting strain on household budgets. Your total bill savings will be dependent on your energy use. If approved, this 25% reduction will be applied automatically, and you do not need to take any action. This 25% reduction will be reflected under the ‘current charges for electricity’ section of your bill. Although the 25% is not its own line item, we reduced certain rate components to achieve this reduction.”

CFREE (Carbon Free Residential - Everything Electric) is a subcommittee of the Lincoln Green Energy Committee. CFREE provides guidance on how households can reduce use of fossil fuels and decrease greenhouse gas emissions to help Massachusetts meet statewide emissions limits set for 2030, 2040, and 2050. It also provides information about state and federal incentives that help reduce the cost of such changes. For guidance on such projects at your home, contact: Lincolngreencoach@gmail.com. For more information visit: www.lincolngreenenergy.org.