Boston Gas Company d/b/a National Grid Rate Selection Guide
Boston Gas Company, doing business as National Grid, is the largest natural gas local distribution company in Massachusetts, serving roughly 758,750 customers across eastern Massachusetts. Gas supply is deregulated, so commercial and industrial customers can buy gas from competitive suppliers while National Grid provides regulated delivery. C&I customers access data through the My Business Account portal, Energy Profiler Online, Green Button Connect (UtilityAPI), and EDI.
Boston Gas Company d/b/a National Grid Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-41 / G-51 | Small C&I | Customer charge + per-therm distribution + CGAC + LDAC (see tariff) | Small businesses and institutions with low-to-moderate gas use |
| G-42 / G-52 | Medium C&I | Customer charge + per-therm distribution (lower tier) + CGAC + LDAC | Mid-size facilities with 22,000-100,000 therms/year |
| G-53 | Large C&I | Customer charge + lowest per-therm distribution tier + LDAC (supply typically from competitive supplier) | Large industrial / high-volume facilities |
| Transportation | Delivery-only | Distribution + balancing charges only | Customers buying gas from a competitive supplier |
Market Overview
Massachusetts natural gas supply is deregulated. National Grid provides regulated distribution while C&I customers may buy the gas commodity from licensed competitive suppliers under the Commonwealth's retail choice program. Customers who do not choose a supplier receive default Cost of Gas (supply) service from National Grid at a regulated, pass-through rate.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Boston Gas Company d/b/a National Grid Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
National Grid (Boston Gas) C&I gas delivery rates are structured as a fixed monthly customer charge plus a per-therm distribution charge that varies by rate class, layered with the Cost of Gas Adjustment Clause (CGAC, the supply pass-through for default-service customers) and the Local Distribution Adjustment Clause (LDAC). C&I customers are assigned to rate classes primarily by annual therm usage and load factor. Boston Gas filed a base distribution rate case (D.P.U. 26-50) on January 16, 2026 seeking roughly $342 million in additional distribution revenue, with new rates expected to take effect January 1, 2027 (residential winter bill impacts estimated at ~8.4% in the Boston Gas territory and ~9.4% in the Colonial Gas territory). Specific per-therm dollar figures are published in the filed tariff provisions; consult the tariff book for exact, current values.
Effective: January 1, 2026 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate G-41 (Small C&I, Low Load Factor) | commercial | Commercial, industrial, and institutional customers with low annual usage (legacy Boston Gas G-41B / Colonial G-41C; ~22,000 therms or less per year). | Fixed monthly customer charge plus per-therm distribution charge, plus CGAC (if on default supply) and LDAC. See filed tariff for current per-therm values. | — |
| Rate G-51 (Small C&I, High Load Factor) | commercial | Commercial, industrial, and institutional customers with high load factor service in the legacy Boston Gas territory; comparable small-volume class (G-51E ~45,000 therms or less). | Fixed monthly customer charge plus per-therm distribution charge, with CGAC and LDAC. High-load-factor design rewards steady usage. See filed tariff for current values. | — |
| Rate G-42 (Medium C&I) | commercial | Commercial, industrial, and institutional customers with medium annual usage (e.g., G-42E >22,000 and ≤100,000 therms; G-42B/C analogous by territory and meter capacity). | Fixed monthly customer charge plus per-therm distribution charge (lower per-therm than small-volume classes), with CGAC and LDAC. See filed tariff for current values. | — |
| Rate G-52 (Medium C&I, High Load Factor) | commercial | Commercial/industrial customers with medium volume and high load factor. | Fixed monthly customer charge plus per-therm distribution charge; high-load-factor variant of the medium class, with CGAC and LDAC. See filed tariff for current values. | — |
| Rate G-53 (Large C&I) | industrial | Large commercial and industrial customers with high annual usage (legacy Boston Gas large-volume class). | Fixed monthly customer charge plus per-therm distribution charge (lowest per-therm tier), with CGAC and LDAC; large users typically buy supply from competitive suppliers. See filed tariff (M.D.P.U. No. 87.4) for current values. | — |
| Transportation / Capacity Release Service | industrial | C&I customers (typically large) taking gas from a competitive supplier and using National Grid for delivery and balancing only. | Distribution delivery and balancing charges only; commodity priced separately by the competitive supplier. See filed tariff and imbalance trading provisions. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Multi-site commercial portfolio
Consolidate billing and usage for all facilities and benchmark consumption across sites.
My Business Account centralizes multi-account billing and export, and class assignment by therm volume lets you confirm each site is on the optimal rate.
- Use My Business Account to export CSV usage for all sites
- Verify each site's rate class against annual therms
- Shop competitive supply across the portfolio
Large industrial / high-volume facility
Minimize delivered gas cost on a large-volume account.
Large-volume classes carry the lowest per-therm distribution tier, and buying the commodity from a competitive supplier with transportation service can reduce total cost.
- Evaluate transportation/capacity-release service
- Lock supply with a competitive supplier
- Use EPO load shapes to manage balancing
Energy consultant / aggregator
Automate data collection across many client accounts.
Green Button Connect (UtilityAPI) provides OAuth-based automated access to bill and usage data; EDI is available if you are an approved ESCO.
- Register with UtilityAPI for Green Button Connect
- Collect OAuth authorizations per client
- Use EDI 814/810/867 if operating as an ESCO
Facility pursuing efficiency / decarbonization
Reduce therm consumption and capture incentives.
Energy Profiler Online reveals load shapes to target waste, and Mass Save / National Grid commercial efficiency programs offset upgrade costs.
- Enroll in Energy Profiler Online
- Target peak-consumption periods for upgrades
- Apply for commercial efficiency incentives
Historical Rate Trends
Massachusetts gas delivery rates have risen steadily, driven by infrastructure investment, the Gas System Enhancement Program, and elevated wholesale gas costs reflected in the CGAC. National Grid filed a major base distribution rate case in January 2026.
January 16, 2026
Boston Gas filed base distribution rate case D.P.U. 26-50 seeking ~$342 million in additional distribution revenue; DPU decision expected by November 30, 2026 with new rates effective January 1, 2027. Estimated residential winter bill impacts ~8.4% (Boston Gas territory) and ~9.4% (Colonial Gas territory).
~8-9% (residential winter, proposed)Overall trend: Increasing
Next expected change: New base distribution rates from D.P.U. 26-50 expected to take effect January 1, 2027.
Cost Optimization Strategies
Because Massachusetts gas supply is deregulated, the biggest opportunities for C&I customers are commodity procurement and load-factor management, on top of the standard efficiency programs National Grid offers.
Shop competitive gas supply
For: All C&I rate classes
Buy the gas commodity from a licensed competitive supplier instead of taking default Cost of Gas service, locking in price certainty and potentially lower supply rates.
Improve load factor / right-size rate class
For: Small and medium C&I
Higher, steadier load factors can qualify for high-load-factor classes (G-51/G-52) with more favorable per-therm distribution charges; verify the optimal class as usage changes.
Use Energy Profiler Online for efficiency
For: C&I with interval meters
Analyze daily/weekly load shapes in EPO to find waste, schedule equipment, and target efficiency upgrades that lower therm consumption.
Capture efficiency incentives
For: All C&I
Participate in Mass Save and National Grid commercial efficiency programs to offset upgrade costs and reduce gas usage.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Boston Gas Company d/b/a National Grid interval data →
Deregulated Market Shopping
Massachusetts gas supply is open to competition. C&I customers can buy the gas commodity from a licensed competitive supplier while National Grid continues regulated delivery. Customers who do not choose receive default Cost of Gas service at a regulated pass-through rate.
How to Compare Boston Gas Company d/b/a National Grid Suppliers
- 01Pull recent bills to determine annual therm usage and rate class
- 02Compare offers from DPU-licensed competitive gas suppliers
- 03Confirm whether the supplier or National Grid handles balancing/capacity
- 04Enroll with the chosen supplier; National Grid continues delivery and billing
Contract Terms for Boston Gas Company d/b/a National Grid Supply Agreements
- Fixed vs. variable supply pricing
- Contract length and renewal/auto-renewal terms
- Early termination fees
- Whether capacity/balancing is included
Common Pitfalls When Shopping Boston Gas Company d/b/a National Grid Rates
- Variable rates can spike in winter
- Auto-renewal at higher rates after the initial term
- Distribution (delivery) charges are unaffected by supplier choice
- Confirm supplier is DPU-licensed
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my business buy gas from a competitive supplier instead of National Grid?▾
Yes. Massachusetts gas supply is deregulated, so C&I customers can purchase the gas commodity from any DPU-licensed competitive supplier while National Grid continues to provide regulated delivery. If you don't choose, you receive default Cost of Gas service from National Grid at a regulated pass-through rate.
How do I get my facility's interval gas usage data?▾
Enroll your facility in National Grid's Energy Profiler Online (EPO) service, which requires an interval-capable meter (call 1-800-322-3223 to confirm). EPO provides daily, weekly, and monthly load shapes. Sub-hourly data and bill history are also available through Green Button Connect.
How can a consultant access our data automatically?▾
Have your consultant register with National Grid's Green Button Connect My Data program (operated by UtilityAPI). You authorize access via OAuth 2.0, and they retrieve bill and usage data through the API without you sharing login credentials. You can revoke access at any time.
What rate class is my business on?▾
Boston Gas assigns C&I customers to rate classes (G-41, G-42, G-51, G-52, G-53, etc.) primarily by annual therm usage, load factor, and meter capacity. Your class appears on your bill; verify it as usage changes, since high-load-factor classes can carry more favorable per-therm distribution charges.
Are gas rates changing soon?▾
Yes. National Grid filed base distribution rate case D.P.U. 26-50 on January 16, 2026 seeking roughly $342 million in additional distribution revenue. A DPU decision is expected by November 30, 2026, with new rates taking effect January 1, 2027.
Does National Grid support EDI for suppliers?▾
Yes. Approved energy service companies (ESCOs) can use ANSI X12 EDI (814 enrollment, 810 billing, 867 interval, and acknowledgment transactions) after obtaining DPU certification, submitting the supplier documentation package, and completing EDI testing with National Grid.
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