Massachusetts

MAStrong

Days notice (electric)

Days notice (gas)

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Winter moratorium

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Medical exemption

What to do today

If you have a shutoff notice, the date on it is the one that matters. These steps work best in this order.

Call your utility before the date on your notice
Ask for a payment plan or a deferred payment arrangement. Most states require your utility to offer one, and asking before the date is what keeps your service on. The number is on your bill.
Apply for energy assistance
LIHEAP helps with utility bills and does not have to be paid back. Call the national referral line on 1-866-674-6327 weekdays 9am to 7pm Eastern, or visit energyhelp.us.
Dial 211 for local help
211 is free and connects you to local funds for utilities, rent and food. Some local agencies can pay a utility directly to stop a shutoff.
Ask about medical certification
Massachusetts recognises medical protections. If anyone in your home has a serious illness or relies on powered medical equipment, a note from a doctor can delay a shutoff. Ask your utility for the form today, because it usually has to be back within days.
Contact the regulator if your utility will not work with you
mass.gov handles complaints against regulated utilities in Massachusetts. Filing one can pause a disconnection while it is looked at.

Electric Gas Water Medical Low Income Regulator

Electric Shutoff Rules

Regulatory notice requiredNot regulated / varies

Reconnection feeVaries by utility

Winter moratorium: November 15–March 15 is the standard winter moratorium period. For 2025-2026, the DPU expanded it to October 27, 2025–April 1, 2026 due to federal LIHEAP funding delays. Gas and electric companies cannot shut off heating service to residential customers who demonstrate financial hardship. Applies to investor-owned electric and gas utilities regulated by DPU. Customer must contact utility and complete financial hardship form (initial claim by phone accepted; written form due within 7 days). Broadly protective but requires hardship demonstration, not universal.

Major Utilities

Eversource Energy…Natl Grid (Massac…Unitil (Fitchburg…

Eversource Energy (NSTAR Electric / Western Massachusetts Electric)

Eastern Massachusetts (Boston metro and surrounding suburbs) and western Massachusetts; largest electric distribution company in MA

3-day notice

Winter moratorium (Nov 15–Mar 15) bars shutoffs for heat-dependent residential customers experiencing financial hardship at or below 60% of state median income

the 2025-2026 moratorium was extended through Apr 1, 2026

Year-round protections apply for serious illness (90-day protection), chronic illness (180 days), infants under 12 months, and all-elderly households

Under 220 CMR 25.02, accounts must be 45 days past due before a termination notice may issue

the final shutoff notice must be delivered at least 72 hours (3 days) but no more than 14 days before disconnection

Shutoffs are restricted to Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–4 p.m. and are prohibited on legal holidays

A reconnection charge applies per Eversource's M.D.P.U.-filed tariff, but eversource.com blocks its entire /docs/ path (where its tariff PDFs live) in robots.txt, so the current dollar figure could not be confirmed this pass

the $102 previously shown here is not asserted as confirmed

Assistance Programs

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP/LIHEAP); Residential Arrearage Management Program (RAMP); Low Income Discount Rate (R-2) — 20%–42% bill reduction; Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund (Salvation Army)

"220 CMR 25.02, Billing and Termination Procedure for Residential Customers, via Cornell LII." law.cornell.edu. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

National Grid (Massachusetts Electric Company)

Central and northeastern Massachusetts including Worcester County and portions of eastern MA; second-largest electric distribution utility in MA

3-day notice

Winter moratorium (Nov 15–Mar 15) bars shutoffs for heat-dependent residential customers demonstrating financial hardship at or below 60% of state median income

Year-round protections exist for serious illness (90 days), chronic illness (180 days), infants under 12 months, and all-elderly households

Under 220 CMR 25.02, accounts must be 45 days past due before the final termination notice may issue

notice must be given at least 72 hours but no more than 14 days before disconnection, restricted to Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–4 p.m

Low-income discount rate (R-2) provides a 32%–71% bill credit effective August 29, 2025

Reconnection fee:$37.00 (waived for low-income Rate Schedule R-2 customers)

Assistance Programs

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP/LIHEAP); Arrears Management Program (AMP) — forgives up to $12,000/yr for R-2 customers; Low Income Discount Rate (R-2) — 32%–71% bill credit; Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund

"220 CMR 25.02, Billing and Termination Procedure for Residential Customers, via Cornell LII." nationalgridus.com. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Unitil (Fitchburg Gas and Electric — Electric Division)

Fitchburg, Leominster, Lunenburg, Townsend, and surrounding north-central Massachusetts communities

3-day notice

Winter moratorium (Nov 15–Mar 15) protects income-eligible heat-dependent residential customers

Under 220 CMR 25.02, accounts must be 45 days past due before a termination notice may issue

the final notice must be provided at least 72 hours but no more than 14 days before shutoff, restricted to Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–4 p.m

Households where all residents are 65 or older cannot be shut off without prior DPU written approval

Customers claiming a special protection may delay shutoff by 72 additional hours to provide documentation

Assistance Programs

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP/LIHEAP); Low Income Discount Rate; Arrearage Management Program (AMP); Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund

"220 CMR 25.02, Billing and Termination Procedure for Residential Customers, via Cornell LII." law.cornell.edu. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Gas Shutoff Rules

Regulatory notice requiredNot regulated / varies

Reconnection feeVaries by utility

Major Utilities

Eversource Energy…Natl Grid Gas (Ke…Liberty Utilities…Unitil Gas (Fitch…

Eversource Energy Gas (formerly Bay State Gas / Columbia Gas of Massachusetts)

Southeastern Massachusetts, South Shore, and Merrimack Valley (acquired from Columbia Gas of MA in 2020)

3-day notice

Winter moratorium (Nov 15–Mar 15) protects heat-dependent residential customers experiencing financial hardship at or below 60% state median income

2025-2026 moratorium extended through Apr 1, 2026

Under 220 CMR 25.02, gas accounts must be 45 days past due before the final termination notice may issue

notice must be delivered at least 72 hours but no more than 14 days before disconnection, only between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m

Monday–Thursday

Reconnection for verified financial hardship customers requires payment of the lesser of 20% of past-due balance or $400, plus enrollment in a payment plan

Assistance Programs

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP/LIHEAP); Residential Arrearage Management Program (RAMP); Low Income Discount Rate (R-2); Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund

"220 CMR 25.02, Billing and Termination Procedure for Residential Customers, via Cornell LII." law.cornell.edu. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

National Grid Gas (KeySpan Energy Delivery New England)

Boston metro area, North Shore, South Shore, and eastern Massachusetts; largest gas distribution company in Massachusetts by customer count

3-day notice

Winter moratorium (Nov 15–Mar 15) protects heat-dependent residential customers experiencing financial hardship at or below 60% of state median income

Under 220 CMR 25.02, accounts must be 45 days past due before a final termination notice may issue

shutoff notice must be given at least 72 hours but no more than 14 days in advance, restricted to Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–4 p.m

The Arrears Management Program (AMP) forgives up to $12,000 per year for low-income customers enrolled in the R-2 discount rate program with balances of $300+ that are 60+ days past due

Assistance Programs

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP/LIHEAP); Arrears Management Program (AMP) — up to $12,000/yr forgiveness; Low Income Discount Rate (R-2); Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund

"220 CMR 25.02, Billing and Termination Procedure for Residential Customers, via Cornell LII." law.cornell.edu. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Liberty Utilities (New England Gas Company — Fall River Division)

Fall River and surrounding southeastern Massachusetts communities in Bristol County

3-day notice

Winter moratorium (Nov 15–Mar 15) protects heat-dependent residential customers with financial hardship

Under 220 CMR 25.02, accounts must be 45 days past due before a final termination notice may issue

notice must be given at least 72 hours but no more than 14 days before disconnection

The Arrearage Management Program (AMP) forgives $400 per on-time monthly payment (annual cap of $4,800) for income-eligible customers with $300+ in arrears 60+ days past due

participants must also apply for fuel assistance

Assistance Programs

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP/LIHEAP); Arrearage Management Program (AMP) — $400/month forgiveness, $4,800/yr cap; Low-Income Discount Rate; Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund

"220 CMR 25.02, Billing and Termination Procedure for Residential Customers, via Cornell LII." law.cornell.edu. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Unitil Gas (Fitchburg Gas and Electric — Gas Division)

Fitchburg, Leominster, and surrounding north-central Massachusetts communities

3-day notice

Winter moratorium (Nov 15–Mar 15) prohibits shutoffs for heat-dependent customers experiencing financial hardship at or below 60% state median income

Under 220 CMR 25.02, accounts must be 45 days past due before the final termination notice may issue

notice must be provided at least 72 hours but no more than 14 days before shutoff, restricted to Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–4 p.m

Households with all elderly residents (all members 65+) cannot be shut off without prior DPU written approval

Assistance Programs

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP/LIHEAP); Low Income Discount Rate; Arrearage Management Program (AMP); Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund

"220 CMR 25.02, Billing and Termination Procedure for Residential Customers, via Cornell LII." law.cornell.edu. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Water Shutoff Rules

Regulatory notice requiredNot regulated / varies

Major Utilities

Aquarion Water Company of Massachusetts

Southeastern Massachusetts including Plymouth, Pinehills, Oxford, Millbury, Sheffield, and Dover

2-day notice

Protections bar shutoff when an infant under age 1 resides in the household, when all adult household members are 65 or older, or when a documented serious illness and financial hardship exist

Under 220 CMR 25.02, DPU-regulated private water companies must provide at least 36 hours (approximately 2 days) advance notice before termination for non-payment

accounts must be 45 days past due before notice may issue

Customers may prevent disconnection by paying 5% of the balance or $25 (whichever is lower)

after shutoff, reconnection requires enrolling in the Flexible Payment Plan and paying 50% of the total past-due amount

Assistance Programs

Flexible Payment Plan (50% of arrears required to reconnect); contact 1-800-732-9678 for hardship options

"220 CMR 25.02, Billing and Termination Procedure for Residential Customers, via Cornell LII." law.cornell.edu. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Medical & Vulnerable Household Exemptions

Life-threatening medical conditions provide strong protection from disconnection. Two tiers: (1) serious illness — utility must not disconnect while illness persists; (2) financial hardship — additional protections during winter moratorium. Standard disconnection notice days not confirmed from primary source — listed as null.

Low-Income Protections

LIHEAP / HEAP (Heat Emergency Assistance Program) available. Eversource and National Grid offer low-income rate discounts and arrearage management programs.

Your State Regulator

File a complaint or get help from Massachusetts's utility regulator →

Data last verified: 2026-09-21. Rules may change — verify with your state regulator.