Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, Small General Service (GD-1) customers are placed on the fixed pricing option. Fixed basic service rates will remain the same for six months at a time and are based on the weighted average price over the six-month period (effective August 1 and February 1). Variable energy service rates vary by month to reflect the monthly cost of electricity. Basic Service is currently being provided by a market supplier under a fixed contract thus the rates for the current period are not subject to change. However, when Unitil self-supplies the electricity for basic service, since the rates are determined based on projected market costs, Unitil may file to adjust its fixed and monthly variable rates if the remaining projected costs in the period result in a variance of more than twenty percent of the total period costs. In that instance, filings are to be made by the 15th of the month for rates effective the 1st of the following month.
If you are assigned to the fixed rate, you are allowed to change to the monthly variable rate; however, you may only make this change once as long as you continue to receive uninterrupted basic service. You can find the fixed and variable rates per kilowatt hour (kWh) by rate class on our rates page.
Regular General Service (GD-2, GD-4, GD-5) and Outdoor Lighting (SD, SDC) customers are placed on the variable monthly pricing option. Variable energy service rates vary by month to reflect the monthly cost of electricity. Basic Service is currently being provided by a market supplier under a fixed contract thus the rates for the current period are not subject to change. However, when Unitil self-supplies the electricity for basic service, since the rates are determined based on projected market costs, Unitil may file to adjust its fixed and monthly variable rates if the remaining projected costs in the period result in a variance of more than twenty percent of the total period costs. In that instance, filings are to be made by the 15th of the month for rates effective the 1st of the following month.
If you are assigned to this variable monthly pricing option, you are allowed to change to the fixed pricing option; however, you may only make this change once as long as you continue to receive uninterrupted basic service. You can find the fixed and variable rates per kilowatt hour (kWh) by month by rate class on our rates page.
Large General Service (GD-3) customers receive market based pricing which is determined monthly on an after the fact basis. The rates are shown on our rates page.
If you are a regular General Service (GD-2, GD-4, GD-5) or Outdoor Lighting (SD, SDC) customer and currently receive the fixed pricing option and do decide to switch to a competitive supplier before the six-month period is over, your electric bill will be recalculated to reflect the variable pricing option from the beginning of the six-month period to the date you are switched. This ensures that you pay the actual costs of the electricity you have used. The adjustment may be a credit or debit, and will be reflected on your first bill after the switch is effective. Requests to switch to a competitive supplier are made on the next regularly scheduled meter read date as long as the Company has been notified two or more business days prior to that read date.
Please refer to Unitil’s Basic Service tariff for further details regarding fixed and variable pricing options and related provisions for switching, including rules for initiation and termination of basic service when returning from or starting competitive supply.
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New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, commercial Default Service pricing, with the exception of G1 customers, is available in two forms through July 31, 2026: fixed and variable.
Fixed pricing remains the same for six months at a time, with the six-month period beginning on February 1 and August 1. Fixed pricing is based on the weighted average monthly wholesale price that the Company pays to its Default Service provider(s) over the six-month period, and the forecasted cost of direct market purchases for the six-month period.
Variable pricing changes month to month and is based on the monthly wholesale price that the Company pays to its Default Service provider(s), and the monthly forecasted cost of direct market purchases.
The Company may file to change the rates should significant over- or under-recoveries occur or be expected to occur.
Effective August 1, 2026, commercial Default Service pricing for non-G1 customers is available as fixed only. All non-G1 customers on a variable rate as of that date will be automatically switched to the fixed Default Service rate. Any non-G1 customer that comes back to Default Service from a competitive supplier or community aggregator between now and July 31, 2026 will be put on the default service variable rate.
G1 Default Service pricing is available to all G1 customers as a variable charge only. The G1 Default Service Charge changes monthly, and is established for a six-month period beginning February 1 and August 1 reflecting projected variations in market prices. The Company may file to change the monthly variable rate should significant over- or under-recoveries occur or be expected to occur.
You can find the fixed and variable rates per kilowatt hour (kWh) on our rates page.
Please refer to Unitil’s Default Service tariff for further details regarding fixed and variable pricing, including rules for initiation and termination of energy service when returning from or starting competitive supply.
The relevant excerpts from the tariff are provided below:
“For rates in effect through July 31, 2026, fixed pricing is available to all Non-G1 Customers except Non-G1 Customers who previously had a Competitive Supplier or self-supply and return to Default Service after the six-month rate period beginning February 1, 2026 has commenced. In order to be eligible for the fixed pricing option, Non-G1 Customers who previously had a Competitive Supplier or self-supply must have notified the Company prior to their last meter read before the start of the February 1-July 31, 2026 six-month rate period. New Non-G1 Customers and Non-G1 Customers receiving Default Service will automatically be placed on fixed pricing. Effective August 1, 2026, all customers, including customers who opted for variable pricing and those returning from a Competitive Supplier or self-supply, will be placed on fixed pricing.”
“Until the rate period beginning August 1, 2026, variable pricing is available to new Non-G1 Customers, existing Non-G1 Customers on variable pricing who notified the Company of their intent to remain on the variable pricing option at least two business days prior to the start of the six-month rate period that began on February 1, 2026, and Non-G1 Customers who previously had a Competitive Supplier or self-supply and return to Default Service after the current six-month rate period has commenced or who failed to notify the Company of their intent to return to Default Service prior to their last meter read before the start of the six- month rate period beginning February 1, 2026.”
“Until the rate period beginning August 1, 2026, Non-G1 Customers returning to Default Service from a Competitive Supplier or self-supply during the rate period will automatically be placed on variable pricing. Non-G1 Customers electing variable pricing will not have the opportunity to switch back to fixed pricing until the subsequent six-month rate period. Non-G1 Customers who were placed on variable pricing after returning from a Competitive Supplier or self-supply will be switched back to fixed pricing at the start of the subsequent six-month period.”
Switching to or returning from a competitive supplier or self-supply
- On Next Scheduled Meter Read Date
The Company will normally switch a Customer to a Competitive Supplier or self- Supply, or return them to Default Service, upon request of a Customer as of the next scheduled meter read, provided that notice of the change to a Competitive Supplier or self-supply was received by the Company not less than two business days before that next scheduled meter read date. There shall be no charge for switching from Default Service to a Competitive Supplier or self-supply if such a notice is given.
- Prior to the Next Scheduled Meter Read Date
If switching to a Competitive Supplier or self-supply, or returning to Default Service, before the next scheduled meter read is requested, the Company at its sole discretion and upon agreement by the Customer to pay the applicable fee pursuant to Section II. 10 of the Terms and Conditions for Distribution Service, will terminate Default Service with an unscheduled meter read.”
