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We help residents reduce energy bills

Massachusetts has an energy affordability crisis, exacerbated by underenrollment in existing programs to reduce energy costs and energy usage. Renters, low-income households and non-English speakers bearing the brunt of this energy burden.

We are tackling this challenge by helping underserved residents reduce their energy bills and make their homes safer and more comfortable through energy efficiency and decarbonization.

Our Impact

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Residents supported

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Renters and Landlords

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Rental Units Served

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Speak language other than English

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Low-to-Moderate Income

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Estimated Dollars Saved Annually

Our Approach

Our approach helps residents immediately reduce energy costs and take actions that lead to long-term energy savings, increased health and comfort at home, and a reduction in climate-change-causing pollution.

We provide:

  • Direct Multilingual Outreach: We work closely with municipal and community partners who are locally known and trusted to engage residents. Our multilingual team sends targeted co-branded mailers to reach residents and we meet face-to-face with residents through tabling at events and in local gathering places (churches, community centers, town halls, etc), hosting workshops and canvassing neighborhoods. Through each interaction, we empower residents to access beneficial energy programs.
  • Multilingual In-Office and Phone Support: Our team is available to support residents on the phone or in our Lawrence office to enroll in energy-cost saving programs and sign up for Mass Save energy efficiency offerings. We also work with industry partners to guide building owners through deeper decarbonization projects that increase home comfort and reduce climate-change-causing pollution.
  • Energy Bill Check Ups: Through our pioneering Energy Bill Check Ups, we help residents cut costs through reduced gas and electric rates, fuel assistance and canceling predatory third party electricity supply contracts. We tackle utility bill debt by helping residents enroll in arrearage and debt forgiveness programs. After stabilizing bills, we facilitate effective participation in Mass Save and other beneficial programs with hands-on language and landlord/tenant support.

    Each Energy Bill Check Up delivers an average of approximately $450 in annual household energy savings – before any long-term savings due to participation in energy efficiency and electrification programs.

Through our outreach, direct support and energy bill check-ups we connect residents to programs that meet their needs:

The Challenge

The average low-income family in Massachusetts spends about 10% of its monthly income on energy bills, and in certain neighborhoods, the energy burden can be as high as 31.5%

Our Approach

We help residents understand their bills, assess whether their income qualifies them for benefits they are not yet receiving, like discounted rates, fuel assistance and debt forgiveness programs, and help them enroll in these programs.

Nearly half of eligible low-income households are not receiving available utility discount rates.

We help residents sign up for reduced gas and electric rates, which can save 25-71% on bills, supporting them step-by-step through the process.

Consumers in Massachusetts have lost $651.3 million to predatory suppliers over nine years. Low-income families are 73% more likely to be enrolled in third-party contracts while residents in Limited English Proficiency communities are 63% more likely to be enrolled.

We help residents understand their bill and cancel harmful third party supply contracts – which can lock residents into rates that can spike up to 500%.

Renters are 25% less likely to participate than homeowners in statewide energy efficiency programs and residents who speak a language other than English at home are 18% less likely to participate.

Every dollar invested in energy efficiency can save $2.72 in energy costs*. We help residents sign up for Mass Save energy efficiency programs and access additional incentives and support to advance decarbonization in their homes. This reduces energy costs, increases home comfort and health, and lowers climate-change-causing pollution.

* Source: Green Energy Consumers Alliance

Stories from Our Work

Learn more about how we help residents

Residents, take action to reduce your energy costs

Partners, learn about the state and utility programs we support