Eversource Massachusetts Heat Pump Rebates & Heat Pump Rate

Two programs, often confused

Eversource's role for an Eversource-served MA homeowner installing a heat pump comes in two distinct programs that work together:

• Mass Save heat pump rebate — a one-time payment up to $8,500 that reduces your install cost. Eversource (as the Mass Save electric sponsor for your address) processes the filing after install. Funded by the Mass Save Energy Efficiency Charge on ratepayer bills, administered through the Mass Save HPIN installer + HPQPL equipment + Manual J sizing requirements.
• Eversource Residential Heat Pump Rate — an opt-in time-of-use electric tariff (~$$0.23/kWh blended vs $$0.32 on standard R-1) that reduces your ongoing electric bill once the heat pump is operational. This is a published electric tariff filed with the MA Department of Public Utilities, separate from the Mass Save program.

Most heat pump homeowners benefit from both. The rebate cuts the install cost; the Heat Pump Rate cuts the ongoing electric bill. They're independent enrollments — the rebate is automatic if your installer is HPIN-enrolled and the equipment is on the HPQPL; the Heat Pump Rate is a manual opt-in you (or your installer) request from Eversource after the system is operational.

Eversource Electric vs Eversource Gas — what's the difference?

Eversource Energy operates two subsidiaries in Massachusetts that are both Mass Save sponsors, but they sponsor DIFFERENT rebate categories:

• Eversource Electric (NSTAR Electric d/b/a Eversource) — the legacy NSTAR Electric service. Serves Boston, Cambridge, Springfield, Newton, Somerville, New Bedford, and ~50 other MA cities. As Mass Save sponsor: heat pump rebates, the HEAT Loan electric coordination, the Residential Heat Pump Rate (TOU tariff).
• Eversource Gas of Massachusetts — formerly Columbia Gas of MA, acquired by Eversource in October 2020. Serves Cambridge, Springfield, Brockton (gas only), Framingham, and ~40 other gas service areas. As Mass Save sponsor: gas furnace and gas water heater rebates, weatherization for gas-heated homes, gas-side HEAT Loan coordination.

For a heat pump install: the rebate ALWAYS goes through the electric sponsor (because heat pumps run on electricity). So even if your gas is from Eversource and your electric is from National Grid, your heat pump rebate is filed through National Grid, not Eversource. If both your electric and gas are Eversource (Cambridge, Springfield, etc.), a single Eversource entity handles both filings.

Massachusetts cities Eversource serves

Across the 12 cities MassHVAC covers in depth, Eversource Electric serves the following as the Mass Save sponsor:

• Boston, MA — Eversource electric · National Grid gas
• Springfield, MA — Eversource (both electric + gas)
• Cambridge, MA — Eversource (both electric + gas)
• Brockton, MA — National Grid electric · Eversource gas
• New Bedford, MA — Eversource (both electric + gas)
• Newton, MA — Eversource electric · National Grid gas
• Somerville, MA — Eversource electric · National Grid gas

Outside our 12-city coverage, Eversource serves another ~50 MA municipalities. Look up your specific address against the Mass Save Sponsors directory to confirm.

The Eversource Residential Heat Pump Rate

Eversource MA publishes an opt-in Residential Heat Pump Rate (R-1 HP variant) — a time-of-use electric tariff specifically for verified heat pump households. Key facts:

• Blended rate: approximately $$0.23/kWh (2026-Q1), down from $$0.32/kWh on standard R-1 — a ~28% discount on the typical heat pump load shape
• Schedule: off-peak hours (overnight + early morning, when heat pump runtime concentrates) discounted; on-peak weekday daytime priced higher to balance
• Eligibility: homes with a verified cold-climate heat pump as primary heat. Backup gas furnaces / oil boilers OK if the heat pump carries the bulk of heating load
• Enrollment: opt-in after the heat pump is installed and operational. Call Eversource MA customer service or search "Eversource MA Heat Pump Rate"
• Operating-cost impact: for a typical 2,000 sqft Eversource-served MA home converting from oil ($3.80/gal), the Heat Pump Rate enrollment is the swing factor that turns the operating-cost comparison from "comparable to oil" into "meaningfully cheaper than oil" — typically +$700-$1,100/yr in fuel savings on the HP Rate vs no savings on standard R-1

The Heat Pump Rate is what makes the Eversource MA heat-pump conversion math work for oil-conversion scenarios. Without it, at $0.32/kWh standard R-1 vs $3.80/gal oil, a cold-climate HP costs roughly the same per MMBtu of heat delivered. With it, the HP runs ~30% cheaper than oil over the year. Our operating-cost calculator models both scenarios side-by-side.

How the Eversource rebate filing works

1. Get a Mass Save Home Energy Assessment — free 60-90 minute assessment, gates every rebate. Schedule through Mass Save's website.
2. Choose an HPIN installer — your installer must be enrolled in the Mass Save Heat Pump Installer Network. Vet installers for HPIN status BEFORE signing.
3. Manual J load calculation — your installer runs ACCA Manual J to size the system within the 90-120% sizing-bonus band
4. HPQPL-listed equipment — the proposed make/model must be on the current Heat Pump Qualified Products List
5. Install and commissioning — typical 3-5 days for a multi-zone ductless install
6. Rebate filing — your installer submits the filing through Mass Save's contractor portal; Eversource processes the rebate
7. Rebate check arrives — typically 6-12 weeks after the rebate filing

Full procedural detail is in our Mass Save rebate claim process guide. The Eversource-specific part is in step 6 — Eversource processes the rebate against their portion of the Mass Save Energy Efficiency Charge fund.