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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In New Hampshire, Regular General Service (G2), Outdoor Lighting (OL), and Light Emitting Diode Outdoor Lighting (LED) rate classes are placed on the fixed pricing option, except in instances when the customer is returning to default service from a competitive supplier or community aggregator. As explained further below, customers are placed on the variable rate until the start of the next six month rate period at which time they are automatically placed on the fixed pricing option.
Customers who previously had a competitive supplier or community aggregator and notify the Company three business days prior to their last meter read before the start of the next six-month rate period (February 1 or August 1), will first be placed on the variable rate then automatically placed on the fixed rate for the upcoming six month rate period. For example, if the customer notifies the Company of the change three business days prior to their January meter read date, the change to the fixed rate will automatically occur effective February 1. Otherwise the change to the fixed rate will automatically occur effective August 1 (the date of the next six month rate period). Likewise, for customers notifying the Company of the change three business days prior to their July meter read date, the change to the fixed rate will automatically occur effective August 1. Otherwise the change to the fixed rate will automatically occur effective February 1 (the date of the next six month rate period). These timeframes were developed in accordance with system requirements based on Electronic Business Transactions (EBT) guidelines.
Fixed energy service rates are set to be the same rate 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). The Company may file to change the rate should significant over- or under-rceoveries occur or be expected to occur.
Variable energy service rates vary by month to reflect the monthly cost of electricity and are established for a six month period beginning January 1 and August reflecting projected monthly costs. The Company may file to change the monthly variable rate should significant over- or under-recoveries occur or be expected to occur. If you are assigned to the fixed rate, you are allowed to change to the monthly variable rate if you notify the company of your intent to switch options at least two business days prior to the start of the next six-month rate period. You can find the fixed and variable rates by month by rate class on our rates page.
Please refer to Unitil’s Default Service tariff for further details regarding fixed and variable pricing options and related provisions for switching, including rules for initiation and termination of energy service when returning from or starting competitive supply.
The relevant excerpt from the tariff when returning from competitive supply or an aggregator is below:
“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 current six-month rate period 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 notify the Company prior to their last meter read before the start of the six-month rate period. New Non-G1 Customers and Non-G1 Customers receiving Default Service will automatically be placed on fixed pricing.
Variable pricing is available to new Non-G1 Customers, existing Non-G1 Customers on variable pricing who notify 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, 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 subsequent six month rate period.”
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 January 1 and August 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 these rates on our rates page.
