National Grid (Massachusetts) basic service (fixed price option): current rate and history

The National Grid (Massachusetts) basic service (fixed price option) is 17.185¢ per kWh now (since August 1, 2026). On 1,000 kWh, that is $171.85 for the supply part of the bill. It is the price per kWh that National Grid (Massachusetts) charges for electricity supply when you do not select a supplier. Compare it with the price of a supplier offer. Each value below has a link to the official document.

Now: 17.185¢; per kWh, since August 1, 2026
A year ago: 15.484¢; +1.701¢ (+11%)
Highest since 2021: 33.891¢; from November 2022
Lowest since 2021: 11.491¢; from May 2022

National Grid (Massachusetts) basic service (fixed price option), cents per kWh, November 2021 to November 2026.

All periods

Period	Basic Service (fixed price option)	Change	Source
August 1, 2026 to nowEffective during the period of 8/1/26 - 1/31/27	17.185¢	+1.813¢	National Grid (Massachusetts Electric and Nantucket Electric), Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rate classes R-1 and R-2, Fixed Price Option table (title in file: 8.1.2026 Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rates); same value on energyswitchma.gov (Mass. DPU) for National Grid, Aug '26 through Jan '27
February 1, 2026 to July 31, 2026Effective during the period of 2/1/26 - 7/31/26	15.372¢	−0.112¢	National Grid (Massachusetts Electric and Nantucket Electric), Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rate classes R-1 and R-2, Fixed Price Option table (title in file: 8.1.2026 Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rates)
August 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026Effective during the period of 8/1/25 - 1/31/26	15.484¢	+0.812¢	National Grid (Massachusetts Electric and Nantucket Electric), Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rate classes R-1 and R-2, Fixed Price Option table (title in file: 8.1.2026 Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rates)
February 1, 2025 to July 31, 2025Effective during the period of 2/1/25 - 7/31/25	14.672¢	−1.357¢	National Grid (Massachusetts Electric and Nantucket Electric), Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rate classes R-1 and R-2, Fixed Price Option table (title in file: 8.1.2026 Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rates)
November 1, 2024 to January 31, 2025Effective during the period of 11/1/24 - 1/31/25	16.029¢	−0.026¢	National Grid (Massachusetts Electric and Nantucket Electric), Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rate classes R-1 and R-2, Fixed Price Option table (title in file: 8.1.2026 Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rates)
August 1, 2024 to October 31, 2024Effective during the period of 8/1/24 - 10/31/24	16.055¢	−2.158¢	National Grid (Massachusetts Electric and Nantucket Electric), Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rate classes R-1 and R-2, Fixed Price Option table (title in file: 8.1.2026 Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rates)
November 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024Effective during the period of 11/1/23 - 7/31/24	18.213¢	+4.098¢	National Grid (Massachusetts Electric and Nantucket Electric), Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rate classes R-1 and R-2, Fixed Price Option table (title in file: 8.1.2026 Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rates)
May 1, 2023 to October 31, 2023Effective during the period of 5/1/23 - 10/31/23	14.115¢	−19.776¢	National Grid (Massachusetts Electric and Nantucket Electric), Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rate classes R-1 and R-2, Fixed Price Option table (title in file: 8.1.2026 Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rates)
November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023Effective during the period of 11/1/22 - 4/30/23	33.891¢	+22.400¢	National Grid (Massachusetts Electric and Nantucket Electric), Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rate classes R-1 and R-2, Fixed Price Option table (title in file: 8.1.2026 Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rates)
May 1, 2022 to October 31, 2022Effective during the period of 5/1/22 – 10/31/22	11.491¢	−3.330¢	National Grid (Massachusetts Electric and Nantucket Electric), Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rate classes R-1 and R-2, Fixed Price Option table (title in file: 8.1.2026 Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rates)
November 1, 2021 to April 30, 2022Effective during the period of 11/1/21 – 4/30/22	14.821¢	—	National Grid (Massachusetts Electric and Nantucket Electric), Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rate classes R-1 and R-2, Fixed Price Option table (title in file: 8.1.2026 Basic Service Rates for Customers on Residential rates)

What the price includes

Basic Service fixed price for residential rates R-1 and R-2 (Massachusetts Electric and Nantucket Electric: one table for both). The table does not say what the price includes. The 2026 summary of Basic Service rates (sheet 5) shows that the price includes the Basic Service administrative cost factor.

Each value is the price as the utility or the state printed it for that period. The value in effect now agrees with the supply charges of our National Grid (Massachusetts) bill calculator (17.185¢ per kWh). National Grid (Massachusetts) also publishes its own list of past prices.

How to compare a supplier offer

A supplier offer replaces only this price. The delivery charges of National Grid (Massachusetts) stay the same with any supplier. If an offer is less than the basic service (fixed price option), you save the difference on each kWh while the offer price stays fixed. Read the contract term, the price after the term, and any monthly or early cancellation fee. The basic service (fixed price option) changes one or more times a year, so compare the offer with the next value too.

Use the National Grid (Massachusetts) calculator: select "A supplier that I selected" and type the offer price to see your bill with it.

Other utilities in Massachusetts: Eversource (Massachusetts). Compare them on one page: Massachusetts default electricity price by utility. See all utilities.

Questions

What is the National Grid (Massachusetts) basic service now?

17.185¢ per kWh, since August 1, 2026. On 1,000 kWh, the supply part of the bill is $171.85 at this price.

When does the National Grid (Massachusetts) basic service change?

The current price has been in effect since August 1, 2026. It has changed 10 times since November 1, 2021.

What was the National Grid (Massachusetts) basic service a year ago?

15.484¢ per kWh on November 2, 2025. The price now is 1.701¢ higher (11%).