What to Know Before the Winter Heating Season
In New England, energy bills are generally higher in the colder months. Supply costs, or the cost of the energy that is delivered to you, tend to be higher in the winter months due to changes in demand and availability of resources. Supply costs are market-based and are not set by Unitil. Additionally, the energy needed to keep your home comfortable during the chilly New England winter means higher overall energy use.
We want to ensure you know what resources and options are available as we head into the winter season. Read on to learn how to shop for a 3rd party energy supplier as well as energy efficiency measures to help you prepare.
Energy Resources
Energy efficiency
Reducing your energy usage
3rd party suppliers
Research 3rd Party supplier options
Helpful Resources
What to do if you fall behind
If you are struggling to pay your bill or are already behind, we offer a number of payment plans and assistance programs. All available programs are outlined on Unitil.com, and customers can speak directly to a customer service representative by calling our contact center at 1-888-301-7700.

We all need help sometimes
The unexpected can happen to any of us. Our Customer Service Team can help create a personalized plan to get you back on track.
Supply prices and how they are determined:
Supply rates are the market cost of the energy (electricity or natural gas) that is delivered to you. Distribution utilities like Unitil do not produce electricity or natural gas. Instead, we are required to go out to bid for the current market rate every six months. This supply rate becomes part of customer bills and is entirely separate from the rates that pay for distribution costs.
Unitil does not make any money off of supply as there is no mark-up on this rate. Instead, this is a simple pass-through to customers based on the actual, seasonal costs of energy. Most Unitil customers have the option to find an alternative supply rate through third-party providers.