As winter approaches, rising energy costs are once again expected to place additional strain on households across Massachusetts. Seasonal spikes in gas and electricity prices—combined with ongoing inflation—continue to affect affordability for many residents. Although a wide range of assistance programs can help reduce heating, electric, and gas bills, many eligible households remain unaware or unenrolled.

To help municipalities and local organizations communicate these resources clearly and effectively, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) has created a comprehensive Communications Toolkit. The MAPC shared this toolkit with The Maynard Voice, and we are passing it along to our readers to ensure that Maynard residents have easy access to the information and assistance available to them this winter.

Below, we are including the information, along with links and guidance to help you find—and apply for—the programs that best fit your household’s needs.

If you or someone you support needs assistance with utility bills:

Residents should ask their utility company if they qualify for an income-eligible rate which provides a discount on the customer’s entire bill and is based on the previous four weeks of gross household income. Residents who currently qualify for the following programs may qualify: SNAP, Head Start, Mass Health, free and reduced school lunch, Supplemental Security Income, and Public Housing benefits. Residents may also qualify for balance forgiveness or an “arrearage management program” (AMP). The AMP provides for an individualized payment plan that, if followed, allows for all or a portion of a customer’s outstanding unpaid balance to be forgiven.   

Additionally, most utilities offer a 12-month payment plan to customers having trouble paying their monthly bills. During enrollment in a payment plan, the customer is protected from having their service shut off.  For more information on these programs: 

• Discount Rates and Payment Plans:
  • Customers of Eversource, National Grid, Unitil, and some municipal light plants may be eligible for electric and gas bill discounts of up to 71% (depending on income) if they qualify for any one of a number of public benefit programs. Residents currently receiving benefits from programs such as Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Supplemental Social Security Income, SNAP, WIC, Head Start, Public Housing, and others will qualify for the discounted rate.
  • Residents struggling to pay their bills may also qualify for balance forgiveness or an “arrearage management program” (AMP). The AMP provides for an individualized, 12-month payment plan that, if followed, allows for all or a portion of a customer’s outstanding unpaid balance to be forgiven and protects the customer from a shutoff.  
• To enroll in a Utility Payment Plan or seek Bill Assistance:
  • Eversource: Payment Plans & Assistance | Eversource
  • National Grid: Help Paying Your Bill | National Grid (nationalgridus.com) 

• Income-Eligible Electricity/Gas Rate Application: 
  • Eversource: Discount Rate (eversource.com)
  • National Grid: Discount Rate Application – Massachusetts (nationalgridus.com)
• If You Live in a Municipal Light Plant Community, reach out to your municipal utility to see if a discount rate program is available. 

• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP): Residents and households making as much as 60% of the state median income may be eligible for heating fuel assistance through the federally-funded HEAP program. Learn more about the program and how to qualify for assistance here.
  • Find more information through the Massachusetts Cold Relief brochure here or call the Cold Relief Hotline at 1-800-632-8175.
• Local Community Action Program (CAP) Contacts: These agencies provide a wide range of services, including fuel assistance and utility assistance, and administer HEAP. Residents can find their local CAP agency here: Agencies – MASSCAP
  
• The Good Neighbor Fund: Residents who aren’t eligible for HEAP, other Federal, or State programs, may be eligible for the Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund. This fund provides resources to any Massachusetts resident who, because of temporary financial difficulty, cannot meet a month’s energy expense. A household’s income must fall between 60% and 80% of the state’s median income levels. This program is a partnership between utility companies and the Salvation Army of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund (magoodneighbor.org).  

What Can Residents do to Reduce Utility Costs?

What Can Your Residents do to Reduce Utility Costs?Collapse

Energy Saving Tips 

There are many actions residents can take to reduce their energy consumption and lower their energy bills. 

Weatherization and Energy Efficiency 

Residents can reduce their energy bills by weatherizing their homes and investing in energy efficient equipment. The utility energy efficiency program Mass Save and many municipal light plants offer significant incentives and/or no-cost programs for energy efficient improvements. Residents served by one of the investor-owned utilities (Eversource, National Grid, Unitil, Cape Light Compact, Berkshire Gas, and Liberty Utilities) can receive support through Mass Save through the following steps: 

• Conduct a No-Cost Home Energy Assessment: Homeowners and landlords in 1-4 unit buildings can contact Mass Save, the investor-owned utility energy efficiency program for a free home energy assessment to learn about what improvements could reduce energy bills. Sign up for a no-cost home energy assessment here.
• Install Energy Efficiency Improvements: Air sealing, insulation, and more efficient appliances can reduce energy bills by 15-30%. Mass Save offers incentives that cover 75% of the cost of weatherization improvements identified in a home energy assessment and thousands of dollars in incentives for high-efficiency heat pumps, water heaters, smart thermostats, and more. Up to 100% of the cost of these efficiency improvements may be covered for households making less than 80% of area median income.
• Multifamily Building Programs: Landlords and building managers of buildings with 5 or more units can receive no-cost Multi-Family Energy Assessments and incentives for improvements from Mass Save here or by calling 800-594-7277. Landlords of affordable multifamily buildings can receive no-cost energy efficiency upgrades through the Low-Income Energy Affordability Network here or by calling 617-348-6425. 
• Special Offer for Residents of Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Framingham, Lynn, Malden, Quincy, Revere, and Woburn: Select “designated equity communities” with higher proportions of renters and low- and moderate-income residents are eligible for no-cost weatherization improvements and expanded rebates with no income verification necessary. More information on this new program can be found here.

Residents who are not customers of one of the investor-owned utilities should reach out to their municipal light plant to see what energy assessment programs are available. 

Additional Energy Savings Tips:

• Renter Discounts through Mass Save: Mass Save offers special discounts and free weatherization for renters and landlords. Learn more at https://www.masssave.com/en/learn/renters 
• Low-Income Energy Affordability Network (LEAN) Multifamily Program: If residents live in an affordable multifamily apartment building with 5 or more units, they can talk to their building manager about the LEAN Multifamily Program. The LEAN program offers no-cost energy efficiency upgrades for Massachusetts residents living in multi-family affordable housing units. To check eligibility and apply here or call 617-348-6425.
• Plug Leaks and Reduce Drafts: Mass Save offers discounts on DIY-supplies for sealing air leaks and weatherizing homes, no appointment required. Learn more here.  
• Get Heating and Cooling System Serviced and Replace Filters: Regularly servicing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can help make sure they are running efficiently and prevent unexpected breakdowns. Residents should check the filters on their heating and cooling systems regularly and replace them if they are dirty. This can help the system run more effectively and improve indoor air quality. 
• Thermostat Adjustments: Residents should adjust their heat settings and install programmable thermostats; even adjusting by 1-2° can help save on energy costs. Residents can turn down their heat when they’re not at home and get a free programmable thermostat from Mass Save.   

• Water Heater Temperature Adjustments: Residents can turn down their heat when they’re not at home and get rebates on programmable thermostats from Mass Save. Adequate insulation around the water heater can also help reduce energy usage.
   
• Check out more energy saving tips here!   

Community Solar Energy 

Residents may also be able to save money and stabilize their electricity costs by pursuing solar energy, either on their homes or by participating in a community solar project. Community solar allows residents to benefit from solar energy even if they don’t have the ability to install it on their own homes or properties.  

• To learn more about Community Solar and available programs see MassCEC’s Community Solar page.
• Energy Sage Market Place also provides a platform to search for available programs by zip code.  

Note: Massachusetts residents are protected from utility shut offs if they or someone in their household is seriously ill, have an infant under 12 months, or is an adult 65+ years old plus have a minor living with them (the utility must get approval from DPU in this case). Everyone is protected from electricity and gas shut-offs during the coldest months between November 15 and March 15. However, during this time a utility customer will continue to accrue debt if bills are unpaid and may be at risk of shut-off when the winter moratorium ends in March.

Get in Touch

If you have any questions, please contact the MAPC Clean Energy Department at [email protected]