The cost of electricity is highly localized. From city to city and state to state the rates change. Figuring out the averages for your area can help you gauge whether a plan is cost effective and how conservative you are with your energy use.
Our team closely tracks electricity rates and consumption across New England where we serve thousands of customers. Recently, we took a look at some of the latest stats for Massachusetts. You may be surprised to learn that Massachusetts has one of the lowest monthly electric bills in the country during the summer.
Here are some other stats and facts that can help you compare Massachusetts electric rates and create a more accurate monthly budget.
Electricity Production in Massachusetts
Where does electricity come from in Massachusetts? The majority (68%) of electricity is generated by natural gas. Another 4% comes from coal.
Massachusetts has also made significant investments in clean energy and is currently exceeding state goals. In March 2018 Massachusetts had 1,867 megawatts of solar photovoltaic capacity installed. That’s 267 megawatts over the goal for 2020.
Massachusetts Net Electricity Generation as of January 2019:
Petroleum-Fired – 40,000 MWh
Natural Gas-Fired – 1,611,000 MWh
Nuclear – 450,000 MWh
Hydroelectric – 119,000 MWh
Nonhydroelectric Renewables – 193,000 MWh
In terms of production, Massachusetts isn’t a power player. It ranks 41st for electricity production in the nation.
Average Residential Electricity Bills in Massachusetts.
Based on the monthly consumption and average price, the average monthly electric bill in Massachusetts during 2017 was $116.86. That’s right in line with New England, which had an average monthly bill of $116.97, and slightly higher than the national average of $111.67.
Residential Electricity Rates in Massachusetts
In terms of cost per kilowatt hour (kWh), Massachusetts can be pricey. As of January 2019, the average retail price of electricity in the residential sector was 22.57 cents per kWh. That puts Massachusetts at the third highest rate in the nation. Only Hawaii (32.09 cents) and Rhode Island (22.67 cents) are higher.
The national median rate is 11.89 cents per kWh, and the average rate was 12.47 cents per kWh in January 2019. The rates range from 32.09 cents to 8.80 cents in Oklahoma, however, 45 states are below 20 cents a kWh.
Average Residential Electricity Consumption in Massachusetts
Over 6.9 million people call Massachusetts home. They reside in 2,894,484 housing units. Those kinds of numbers mean demand for electricity is high in the state, but residents are super conservative.
So much so, the average monthly electricity consumption in Massachusetts is just 583 kWh. The total energy consumed per capita is 209 million Btu. That puts Massachusetts at the 6th lowest consumption rate in the U.S. per capita.
Massachusetts Residential Electricity Use in the Summer
In general, Massachusetts electricity usage in summer is much lower compared to other states. Electricity demand actually peaks in the winter due to the cold. One in six Massachusetts residents use electricity to heat their homes. Those that use electricity spend 59% of their electric use on heating.
In the U.S. air conditioning is the largest end use of electricity, but the same cannot be said about Massachusetts in particular. Many homes have air conditioning, yet it’s not used continuously in the summer because the state enjoys relatively mild weather.
Average Rates and Consumption for Commercial Electricity in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts economy isn’t built on businesses that consume a lot of energy. The main industries are real estate, finances, professional services, business services, insurance and information.
As of February 2019 the average electricity rate for commercial customers in Massachusetts was 16.88 cents per kWh. That is slightly higher than the average 16.72 cents a kWh in New England. That national average is 10.52 cents per kWh.
Based on the latest data from the EIA, the average monthly commercial bill is $841.64. The average monthly consumption was 5,282 kWh at 15.93 cents per kWh. Massachusetts commercial customers pay about 10% more than the New England monthly average of $760.66.
Looking for competitive electricity rates in Massachusetts? Provider Power is a leading energy supplier in New England for both residential and commercial customers. Check to see if energy plans are available in your city!
Resources:
Massachusetts State Profile and Energy Estimates: https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=MA#tabs-4
Average Retail Price of Electricity to Residential Sector, January 2019: https://www.eia.gov/state/rankings/?sid=US#/series/31
Total Energy Consumed Per Capita, 2016: https://www.eia.gov/state/rankings/?sid=US#/series/12
2017 Average Monthly Bill – Residential
https://www.eia.gov/electricity/sales_revenue_price/pdf/table5_a.pdf
Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_a
