National Grid Massachusetts Heat Pump Rebates & Heat Pump Rate

National Grid's two heat-pump programs

National Grid MA's role for an NG-served heat pump household splits into two distinct programs:

• Mass Save heat pump rebate — a one-time payment up to $8,500 that reduces your install cost. National Grid (as the Mass Save electric sponsor for your address) processes the filing. Funded by the Mass Save Energy Efficiency Charge on ratepayer bills, administered through the standard HPIN installer + HPQPL equipment + Manual J sizing requirements.
• National Grid Residential Heat Pump Rate — an opt-in time-of-use electric tariff (~$$0.22/kWh blended vs $$0.30 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 NG 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 National Grid after the system is operational.

National Grid vs Eversource — what's different?

The Mass Save rebate program is statewide — same amounts, same eligibility, same paperwork regardless of which of the six sponsors processes your filing. Where National Grid and Eversource differ:

• Standard electric rate: National Grid Basic Service + delivery runs ~$$0.30/kWh blended in 2026-Q1 vs Eversource's $$0.32/kWh — National Grid is modestly cheaper on standard residential.
• Opt-in Heat Pump Rate: National Grid's HP rate runs ~$$0.22/kWh blended vs Eversource's $$0.23 — again, NG modestly cheaper. Both are ~25-30% below their standard R-1 counterparts.
• Service territory: National Grid dominates Central + South Shore + North Shore MA. Eversource dominates Greater Boston metro + Western MA. The boundary is mostly geographic, with some city-by-city variation (Brockton has NG electric + Eversource Gas; Cambridge has Eversource electric + Eversource Gas; Worcester has NG for both).
• Processing timeline: Both sponsors process rebates through Mass Save's shared contractor portal — typical 6-12 weeks from install to check arrival. No meaningful difference in processing speed by sponsor.

For most homeowners, the choice of sponsor is determined by your address — you can't switch sponsors by request. What matters: enrolling in the opt-in Heat Pump Rate after install (regardless of sponsor) is the single biggest factor in your ongoing heat-pump operating cost. See our Heat Pump Rate deep dive for the full math.

Massachusetts cities National Grid serves

Across the 12 cities MassHVAC covers in depth, National Grid serves the following as a Mass Save sponsor:

• Boston, MA — Eversource electric · National Grid gas
• Worcester, MA — National Grid (both electric + gas)
• Lowell, MA — National Grid (both electric + gas)
• Brockton, MA — National Grid electric · Eversource gas
• Quincy, MA — National Grid (both electric + gas)
• Lynn, MA — National Grid (both electric + gas)
• Fall River, MA — National Grid electric · Liberty Utilities gas
• Newton, MA — Eversource electric · National Grid gas
• Somerville, MA — Eversource electric · National Grid gas

Outside our 12-city coverage, National Grid serves another ~80 MA municipalities. Verify your address against the Mass Save Sponsors directory.

How the National Grid 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 (the assessor is contracted by whichever sponsor serves your address — typically National Grid for NG-served homes).
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 through Mass Save's contractor portal; National Grid processes the rebate from their portion of the Energy Efficiency Charge fund.
7. Rebate check arrives — typically 6-12 weeks after the rebate filing.

The National Grid Residential Heat Pump Rate

National Grid MA publishes an opt-in Residential Heat Pump Rate — a time-of-use electric tariff specifically for verified heat pump households. Key facts:

• Blended rate: approximately $$0.22/kWh (2026-Q1), down from $$0.30/kWh on standard R-1 — a ~27% discount on the typical heat pump load shape.
• Schedule: off-peak overnight + early morning hours discounted; on-peak weekday daytime priced higher to balance. Heat pump runtime naturally concentrates in off-peak.
• Eligibility: verified cold-climate heat pump as primary heat. Backup gas/oil systems acceptable provided the HP carries primary load.
• Enrollment: opt-in after the install is operational. Call National Grid customer service or search "National Grid MA Heat Pump Rate".
• Operating-cost impact: for a typical 2,000 sqft NG-served MA home converting from oil, HP Rate enrollment swings annual heat-pump operating cost down by ~$700-$900/yr vs standard R-1. Without HP Rate, NG standard R-1 and oil run roughly comparable per MMBtu; with HP Rate, HP runs ~25% cheaper than oil over the year.