Mass Save
Statewide efficiency and electrification program from six utility sponsors: home energy assessments, insulation, heat pump rebates and seasonal heat pump rates.
Program detailsMassachusetts home energy costs & incentives
Some of the country's most expensive electricity, offset by the most developed efficiency program in the US — and an unusual winter electricity rate for heat pump owners.
Prices pulled August 16, 2026
What energy costs here
30.48¢
per kWh, residential electricity
76% above the national average of 17.3¢. 3rd most expensive of 51.
Up 33% since 2021 (7.4% a year), against 27% nationally.
$2.42
per therm, residential natural gas
$25.06 per thousand cubic feet, 2025 annual. National average $1.48/therm.
Up 56% since 2021 (11.8% a year).
Heat pump vs. gas furnace — Close call
Massachusetts's electricity-to-gas price ratio works out at 3.7-to-1. At these prices the two land near each other on running cost, which puts the decision on installation cost, whether your AC also needs replacing, and how cold your winters get.
Below roughly 3.5-to-1 a heat pump usually wins on running cost; above roughly 5-to-1 a furnace may be cheaper through winter. How that comparison works · run it with these rates
State averages from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (electricity, gas), pulled 2026-08-16. Real bills vary substantially by utility within a state, and by rate plan within a utility — check a recent bill for your own numbers before relying on any of this. The heat pump verdict above follows from these averages, so it moves if your rates differ.
What's different in Massachusetts
Mass Save is the statewide efficiency initiative, run collaboratively by six utilities — Berkshire Gas, Cape Light Compact, Eversource, Liberty, National Grid and Unitil. It covers home energy assessments, insulation and weatherization, and heat pump rebates, and it is unusually generous by national standards.
Massachusetts utilities offer seasonal heat pump rates intended to cut the winter cost of running one. That is rare, it materially changes the running-cost maths against the state's headline electricity price, and it is the single thing most worth asking your utility about before you decide.
Start with the home energy assessment rather than the equipment. It is the gateway to most of the other incentives, and Massachusetts housing stock is old enough that envelope work often beats new equipment on cost per dollar saved.
Check with the administrator before you sign anything. Program budgets run out, terms change without notice, and most require approval before work starts — a rebate you apply for afterwards is usually a rebate you don't get. Treat this page as a starting point for your own call, not as confirmation that you qualify. We last checked these programs on August 16, 2026.
Massachusetts programs
The federal position — the same everywhere
- Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D)Ended
Ended. No credit for expenditures made after 31 December 2025.
- Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (Section 25C)Ended
Ended. No credit for property placed in service after 31 December 2025.
Full detail, sources and changelog on the national incentive tracker.
Where to check for your address
- Mass Save
- DSIRE — search state, local and utility programs by ZIP
- ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder
- U.S. DOE — Home Energy Rebates, by state
Your own utility is worth checking separately — utility rebates are often the largest remaining incentive and rarely appear in any central listing.
Not tax advice
Everything here is general information gathered from public sources. It is not tax, financial or engineering advice, and it cannot account for your utility, your income, your equipment or your return. Energy prices are state averages that move; program terms and budgets change without notice. Confirm anything you plan to budget around directly with the program administrator, your utility and a licensed professional before you commit money.
If you find something on this page that is out of date, tell us at minchangyi@me.com and we will correct it.
Run the numbers for your house
These open with Massachusetts's average rates already filled in. Correct them from a recent bill before you rely on the result — state averages hide a lot of variation between utilities.
Guides behind these numbers
- Heat Pump vs. Gas Furnace: The Real 2026 Cost ComparisonUpfront cost, operating cost, and total cost of ownership for heat pumps vs. gas furnaces in 2026 — with the trade-offs most guides skip.HVAC · 6 min read
- The Gas-to-Heat-Pump Rebate Is Gone. The Electric-to-Heat-Pump One Isn't.DOE Program Notice 26-2 removed fuel switching from the HEAR rebates. Here's exactly what changed, who is still eligible, and what to do if your project is already underway.HVAC · 6 min read
- How to Tell If Your HVAC System Is Properly Sized (Manual J Explained)An oversized or undersized HVAC system wastes money and comfort. Here's what proper sizing means and how to know if yours is right.HVAC · 4 min read
- Insulation vs. HVAC Upgrades: Which Should You Prioritize First?Before spending on a new HVAC system, it's often smarter to fix your home's envelope first. Here's how to decide the right order.HVAC · 3 min read
Get the next guide
Occasional emails when we publish a new cost breakdown or update an existing guide with current pricing. No sales calls, no installer lists, unsubscribe anytime.
Follow via RSSYou can also subscribe by RSS.