Here's How Much MA Natural Gas Rates Will Rise In Winter 2023

MASSACHUSETTS — With cool temperatures firmly in place across Massachusetts, many residents may soon be reaching to turn up the thermostat for the first time in many months. And like usual, it's going to cost you.

Eversource and National Grid, the region's two big natural gas suppliers, have filed plans with the state Department of Public Utilities to increase rates for the winter heating season. Both suppliers will increase rates, but those hikes will be nearly equivalent or lower than last winter.

Eversource will increase the per-therm cost in the former NSTAR Gas territory (eastern Massachusetts) to $0.7746, lower than last winter's $1.1101 per therm, later adjusted to $0.9199. That rate will be in effect Nov. 1 to April 30. The Eversource territory formerly known as Columbia Gas will be set at $0.7119 cents per-therm compared to $0.8507 last winter.

"The decrease in the [gas adjustment] expense is driven by lower commodity and demand costs compared to last year due to current market conditions," Eversource said in a DPU filing about the difference in creases between last winter and this winter.

National Grid's rate will rise to $0.8122 cents per-therm on Nov. 1, although the rate change had not been approved by state regulators as of this week. National Grid estimates the average household using 111 therms per-month will see a bill of about $263, a 3 percent increase (about $8) compared to last winter.

For residents who rely on electric heat, the utilities are increasing those rates in November as well.