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Last winter’s colder-than-normal temperatures sent gas heating bills soaring versus prior years. Now, following a proposed winter gas rate increase, the City of Cambridge is urging residents to act early to plan ahead and research how they can cut costs and prepare for colder weather.
“We know rising gas prices can put a strain on families,” said Cambridge Climate Chief Julie Wormser. “That’s why we want residents to be aware of the programs and tax incentives that can help lower bills this winter and beyond.”
Improve Efficiency
The first step in lowering winter energy heating costs is making your home more energy efficient. Cambridge and Massachusetts offer help to do that:
A no-cost Mass Save® Home Energy Assessment can help residents find ways to make their homes more energy efficient, so they retain more heat during the winter. Assessments can be scheduled every two years, and many weatherization and air sealing upgrades are eligible for incentives that cover 75%–100% of the cost.
Cambridge’s Electrify Cambridge program connects homeowners to free technical assistance to guide them through the process of making home energy upgrades.
For long-term price stability, residents should consider switching from gas or oil heating to cleaner, more efficient electric heat pumps. There are incentives that lower the upfront and monthly costs:
Federal tax credits for installing heat pumps are still available. Homeowners can save by acting before these credits expire on December 31, 2025.
Mass Save® offers significant heat pump incentives, including substantial rebates of up to $10,000 for whole-home systems or $1,250 per ton for partial-home systems installed in 2025, plus 0% financing through the HEAT Loan program to cover upfront costs.
This winter Eversource will offer a new, lower rate for homes that heat with electric heat pumps, making operating costs comparable to — or even lower than — natural gas.
“These options not only help families save money, but they also move us toward a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient Cambridge,” Wormser said.
Help with Heating Bills
For income-eligible households, Cambridge offers a Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP, formerly known as Fuel Assistance) to help residents pay winter heating bills between November 1 – April 30.
Program staff can also help eligible applicants who are experiencing a no-heat situation or facing immediate utility shutoff. If you are in a no-heat situation, please call 617-665-6243.
The online application portal for HEAP will open on October 1, 2025. Learn more at www.cambridgema.gov/heatinghelp.
Cambridge’s One-Stop Shop for Energy Help
Residents can call the Cambridge Energy Helpline at 617-430-6230 to talk to advisers and get connected to all these programs and more.
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