National Grid Looking to Lower Electricity Rates by 10.4 Percent

(Editor's note: The following information was submitted by National Grid)

For the second time in less than a week, National Grid is proposing to lower energy costs for its Massachusetts customers.

The company is asking the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities for permission to lower residential electricity rates reducing the monthly bill by 10.4 percent starting May 1. Last week the company filed a request for a net 13 percent reduction in natural gas rates, which also will take effect on May 1. The company is passing on the lower costs it pays for electricity purchased for its customers.

As a result, electric commodity rates will decline by 18.7 percent. The cost of electricity makes up approximately 50 percent of a residential customer’s bill. The remainder covers the costs incurred to deliver the electricity to the customer.

A typical National Grid residential customer using 500 kilowatt hours of electricity each month will see their monthly bill decline by approximately $7.74, from $74.21 to $66.47 based on the proposed cost of electric commodity rates that will run through October of this year.

“It’s gratifying to be able to again pass these cost savings on to our customers,” said Marcy Reed, president of National Grid in Massachusetts. “With nearly 40 percent of the electricity used in Massachusetts being generated by natural gas, and with continued low natural gas prices, we expect that customers will see the benefits of these lower costs in both their natural gas and electricity bills.”

Last week National Grid asked the DPU to reduce natural gas rates by 13 percent for the off-peak season running from May 1 until November 1. That translates into a monthly savings of approximately $6 for the typical National Grid natural gas customer in Massachusetts.

National Grid understands that even with these significant reductions in electricity and natural gas rates, some customers might need assistance making their energy payments or might be interested in finding ways to save on their energy bills. For information, Massachusetts customers can go to www.nationalgridus.com/MyEnergyEfficiencyServicesclick on Select Region, select Massachusetts (Gas or Electricity), then click on “My bill and payments,” then “Billing and payment options” for information about payments, or “My energy efficiency services” to learn about ways to save on energy costs.