Massachusetts gas and electric utilities will begin offering tiered discount rates to income-eligible customers on November 1, 2026. The state Department of Public Utilities, known as the DPU, says so on its winter bills page, and the same page says the department has asked to lengthen the winter ban on heating shutoffs.
The discount is built around six tiers tied to the federal poverty level. Tier 1, for households up to 100 percent of the poverty level, gets the largest discount. Tier 6, for households from 200 percent of poverty up to 60 percent of the state median income, gets the smallest, according to the DPU’s help paying your utility bill page…