Heating Prices Set to Drop for Winter

By CHARLENE ARSENAULT (Patch Staff)

Heating bills are getting lower in Massachusetts, just in time for winter.
Residents who warm their homes with natural gas will see a drop in their bills this winter after two major gas companies filed for lower rates Monday.

Eversource Energy applied for a 31 percent reduction in rates over last year, which would lower customer bills by an average of $30 a month.
National Grid also will be lowering rates, saving customers an average of $7 a month. National Grid’s price drop is less because of increased expenses on supply costs, the company said, including enhancements to the gas line infrastructure and increased energy efficiency programs.

The utilities are attributing the drop in price to a lower cost of natural gas as domestic production continues to increase.

The new, lower rates — if the state Department of Public Utilities approves them — are set to take effect on Nov. 1, just in time for the temperatures to drop.

Together, National Grid and Eversource service about 1.2 million households in Massachusetts.