Massachusetts residents are facing higher prices this winter for electricity and natural gas, thanks to rate hikes approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities for National Grid and Eversource. Starting with November 2022 billing, National Grid customers can expect their electricity bill to rise by 64 percent and natural gas to increase by 24 percent.
"In total, the monthly bill of a typical residential electric customer using 600 kWh (kilowatt-hours) will increase from $179 in the winter 2021-2022 season, to approximately $293 for the winter 2022-2023 season," National Grid stated. That's a 64% jump. The rate increase will take place in November.
Massachusetts is already the fourth most expensive state for electricity in the country, and now the average customer who uses 600 kilowatts of electricity per month will see their bills soar from $179 to an estimated $293/month during the winter season. Eversource customers will also have price increases that start in January 2023.
Not only are prices going through the roof, but utility companies are warning that energy supplies may not be sufficient to meet demand in New England this winter because of inflation, supply problems, and the war in Ukraine. With these steep price hikes and the possibility of rolling blackouts, isn’t it time to consider installing a solar energy system?
In addition to possible state incentives and federal tax credits, the average residential homeowner can expect to save more than a thousand dollars a year on utility bills with a solar energy system. It begins to pay for itself as soon as it’s installed. In addition, you may be able to ‘sell’ electricity back to the utility company with net metering. Net metering, a system of billing, enables owners of solar energy systems to receive credits from the utility company when they produce excess electricity that goes back to the grid. These credits can offset utility charges at times when homeowners use more energy than their panels produce.
Pairing a solar energy system with a solar battery offers peace of mind when it comes to the possibility of rolling blackouts and power outages. The battery storage system is connected to backup breakers that are linked to the appliances and outlets selected by the homeowner. During an outage, the battery storage system automatically switches to solar battery power, keeping your lights on and your house warm this winter.
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