What is utility assistance in Boston, MA?
Boston utility assistance centers on the Massachusetts Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), also called Fuel Assistance, which is administered locally by Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD). HEAP pays up to $850 for utility customers and up to $1,000 for deliverable-fuel households per heating season. Qualifying for HEAP also unlocks Eversource’s Discount Rate and access to HEARTWAP heating-system services. The program runs November 1 through April 30; the 2026–2027 online application opens October 1, 2026.
Boston residents facing high heating bills or past-due energy balances have access to a multi-layer system of assistance: a state-administered heating grant through HEAP, a discounted utility rate through Eversource, arrearage management to clear old balances, and HEARTWAP for failing heating equipment. These programs are related but distinct — knowing which does what determines how you apply and in what order.
This guide explains each program, how ABCD administers HEAP in Greater Boston, how to access the Eversource Discount Rate, and what HEARTWAP covers. It also addresses Massachusetts utility shutoff protections, which are conditional — not automatic — and explains how Boston households can layer multiple resources to address both bill arrears and structural heating problems. For a broader overview of how these programs fit into the federal LIHEAP framework, this guide to how utility assistance programs work provides helpful context before you begin applying. Boston households dealing with both utility and housing instability may also find the weatherization assistance program guide useful — HEARTWAP and WAP both connect to the same intake as HEAP, and weatherization improvements can significantly reduce future heating costs.
Boston Utility Assistance Programs at a Glance
| Program | Best For | Assistance Type | Income Threshold | Where to Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEAP / Fuel Assistance | Winter heating bills | One-time seasonal grant | 60% State Median Income | ABCD / mass.gov/heap |
| Eversource Discount Rate | Ongoing lower monthly bills | Recurring electric rate discount | HEAP/qualifying benefit receipt | eversource.com or 800-566-2080 |
| Eversource New Start | Clearing past-due balances | 12-month arrearage management | 60% SMI + HEAP eligibility | Eversource / through ABCD |
| HEARTWAP | Broken or unsafe heating system | Repair or replacement services | Same as HEAP (60% SMI) | Automatic with HEAP application |
ABCD’s role in Greater Boston: Action for Boston Community Development is the Community Action Agency serving Boston, Brookline, Newton, Malden, Medford, Everett, Melrose, Stoneham, Winchester, and Woburn. It administers all HEAP applications for this service area, processes arrearage referrals for Eversource and National Grid customers, and connects HEAP-eligible households with HEARTWAP and weatherization services.
Massachusetts HEAP: What Boston’s Fuel Assistance Program Pays
The Massachusetts Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is the state’s implementation of the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC). In Greater Boston, ABCD administers the program for more than 24,000 low-income, elderly, and disabled residents each heating season.
What HEAP helps pay
HEAP is a one-time seasonal grant paid directly to your heating provider or utility company — not to you in cash. It covers the cost of heating your primary residence. Eligible fuel types include natural gas, electricity, heating oil, propane, kerosene, coal, and wood. Renters can qualify even if heat is included in their rent, under both subsidized and private housing arrangements.
FY2026 eligibility and income guidelines
Eligibility is based on gross household income at or below 60% of Massachusetts State Median Income and household size. The income thresholds are verified before benefit payment. Eligibility is based on the last four weeks of gross income, and pandemic-related stimulus funds do not count toward income. Current FY2026 income limits include:
FY2026 HEAP Income Eligibility — Selected Household Sizes
| Household Size | Max Gross Annual Income (60% SMI) |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $51,777 |
| 2 people | $67,709 |
| 3 people | $83,641 |
| 4 people | $99,573 |
Source: Massachusetts FY2026 HEAP Income Eligibility and Benefit Chart. Verify current limits at mass.gov/heap before applying, as tables can be updated mid-season.
Benefit determination
The exact benefit amount is determined by a matrix that considers household size, gross income, fuel type, and housing situation. Homeowners or unsubsidized renters using deliverable fuels (oil, propane) generally receive the highest benefits. FY2026 standard maximum benefits are $850 for utility customers (natural gas, electricity) and $1,000 for deliverable fuel customers. Mid-season, the Healey-Driscoll Administration increased these caps to $925 for utilities and up to $1,400 for deliverable fuels to address unusually high demand. A High Energy Cost Supplement (HECS) may add additional funds for households with unusually high prior-year energy costs.
Heating fuel types covered
HEAP covers all primary residential heating sources: natural gas, electricity, heating oil, propane, kerosene, coal, and wood. The fuel type affects your benefit tier — deliverable-fuel households typically receive higher benefits than utility-billed households.
Seasonal application timing
The FY2026 season covered November 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026. Applications were accepted beginning October 1, 2025. For the 2026–2027 season: the online application opens October 1, 2026, and the program runs November 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027. Previous fuel assistance recipients receive recertification forms by mail; returning applicants can recertify by mail, online, or by calling ABCD’s automated line.
Applying Through ABCD in Boston
For Greater Boston residents, ABCD is the primary intake point for HEAP/Fuel Assistance. ABCD serves Boston, Brookline, Newton, Malden, Medford, Everett, Melrose, Stoneham, Winchester, and Woburn. Residents in other parts of Massachusetts apply through the Community Action Agency serving their city or town.
New vs. returning applicants
New applicants apply online at mass.gov/heap, by telephone at 617-357-6012, or in person by appointment at an ABCD intake site. Returning applicants who received a recertification form by mail can renew by returning the signed form with current income documentation in the postage-paid envelope or through the online portal. Boston, Brookline, and Newton applicants direct correspondence to ABCD Fuel Assistance, 178 Tremont Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02111. Mystic Valley area applicants use 2 Florence Street, 4th Floor, Suite 408, Malden, MA 02148.
Documents applicants should prepare
- Proof of gross income for all household members for the last four weeks (pay stubs, Social Security or benefit award letters, pension statements)
- Utility bills or heating fuel account information
- Lease or proof of residence
- Social Security numbers or other identification for household members
- For heat-included-in-rent situations: rental agreement showing monthly rent amount
Application and status process
After submitting, Boston, Brookline, and Newton applicants can check status using ABCD’s automated phone system at 617-348-6411. Mystic Valley clients call 781-322-6284 ext. 334. The state portal at mass.gov/heap also provides status updates for applications submitted online. Award letters are sent by mail once eligibility is determined.
What to do in a heating emergency
Current ABCD HEAP clients experiencing a heating emergency can contact ABCD for crisis assistance. If you are not yet a HEAP client and have no heat, contact ABCD at 617-357-6012 and explain the emergency. ABCD also serves Eversource and National Grid customers who receive Fuel Assistance with utility bill advocacy (arrearage management) — call or apply online and ask specifically about arrearage management if you have a past-due electric or gas balance.
“HEAP is a critical health and safety program. No one should hesitate to contact their local Community Action Agency and find out more. The program is accepting applications until April 30, 2026 and it has never been easier to apply.”
— Andrea Mendoza, ABCD Director of Energy Services, January 2026
Facing a Heating Shutoff or No Heat?
Contact ABCD and Eversource on the same day — applying for assistance does not automatically stop disconnection. Our guide can help you identify every current program available.
Eversource Discount Rate and Bill Assistance for Boston Customers
Eversource is the primary electric utility for most of Boston and Greater Boston. It offers a Discount Rate — a reduced electricity rate applied to your monthly bill — for eligible low-income residential customers.
Who can qualify for a discounted rate
To receive Eversource’s Discount Rate, you must be a current residential Eversource customer with the utility account in your name, and you must be eligible for HEAP (Fuel Assistance) or currently receiving one of a set of qualifying means-tested benefit programs. Qualifying benefits include SSI, MassHealth, EAEDC, TAFDC, Head Start, and certain Veterans’ Service Benefits. Eligibility for the Discount Rate is not limited to HEAP — any listed means-tested program qualifies. Separately, the Healey-Driscoll Administration established an automatic data-matching agreement in 2026 that provides Discount Rate enrollment automatically to MassHealth members and DTA clients (SNAP, TAFDC, EAEDC) without additional paperwork, with electric discounts averaging up to $1,058 per year.
Enrollment routes
Apply for the Discount Rate at eversource.com or call 800-566-2080. If you qualify through HEAP, the enrollment is often coordinated during the HEAP application process through ABCD. If you qualify through a separate means-tested benefit, apply directly to Eversource.
New Start arrearage management
If you have a past-due Eversource balance, the New Start program allows you to eliminate the outstanding balance in as little as 12 months. Requirements include: being a residential Eversource customer; having an account balance over $100 that is at least 60 days overdue; income at or below 60% SMI; eligibility for HEAP or other documented proof of income; making a good-faith payment (amount varies by customer); and making on-time monthly budget payments. Eversource makes up the difference after the 12-month period. ABCD administers arrearage management referrals for Eversource and National Grid customers in its service area — call 617-357-6012 to ask about eligibility.
Shutoff protections and when to contact Eversource
Eversource shutoff protections are conditional, not automatic. Massachusetts’s Winter Moratorium (October 27, 2025 through April 1, 2026 for the current season) protects qualifying low-income utility customers from heat-related termination — but only if you have submitted a Financial Hardship Form to your utility company. Each utility company has its own version of this form. Contact Eversource at 800-592-2000 as soon as you receive a shutoff notice and ask specifically about the winter moratorium, your Financial Hardship Form, and any available payment arrangements. Do not assume the moratorium applies automatically — you must take action.
HEARTWAP: Help Repairing or Replacing Heating Equipment in Boston
HEARTWAP (Heating System Repair and Replacement Program) is a Massachusetts program that provides heating-system repair, replacement, and maintenance services to income-eligible households. It is administered through the same agencies that administer HEAP — for Greater Boston, that is ABCD — and is entirely distinct from HEAP’s bill-payment function.
What HEARTWAP is
HEARTWAP is a year-round program that addresses the structural side of home heating — a broken furnace, an unsafe boiler, a failing heating system — rather than the bill side. If a household is HEAP-eligible but cannot use that benefit because there is no functioning heating system, HEARTWAP is the pathway to getting heat restored.
Who qualifies
Eligibility uses the same 60% SMI income threshold as HEAP. Households that are eligible for LIHEAP/Fuel Assistance are automatically eligible for HEARTWAP services. Priority is given to households with elderly individuals, people with disabilities, children under 6, and Native American households.
Eligible heating-system work
HEARTWAP can fund repair, replacement, or tune-up of heating systems including furnaces, boilers, and heat pumps. The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) — also triggered by a HEAP application — handles insulation, air sealing, and other energy-efficiency improvements that reduce future heating bills. These are separate programs with separate funding but a shared application entry point.
Emergency and no-heat situations
If you have no heat and are a current or eligible HEAP household, contact ABCD immediately at 617-357-6012 and describe the no-heat situation. HEARTWAP and related crisis resources can sometimes mobilize faster than standard processing for genuine heating emergencies.
Why HEARTWAP differs from HEAP bill assistance
HEAP pays a bill. HEARTWAP fixes or replaces the equipment producing the heat. A household can receive both — HEAP covers the energy cost while HEARTWAP or WAP addresses the physical structure. Applying for HEAP automatically triggers a screening for HEARTWAP and WAP eligibility, so there is no separate application required.
Massachusetts Utility Shutoff Protections for Boston Households
Shutoff Callout: Protections Are Conditional, Not Automatic
Massachusetts utility protections for low-income households are real but require action on your part. The Winter Moratorium does not protect your service automatically — you must submit a Financial Hardship Form to your utility company. Contact Eversource, National Grid, or your gas company as soon as you receive any shutoff notice.
Winter considerations
The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) approved an early-start Winter Moratorium for the 2025–2026 season, beginning October 27, 2025 and extended to April 1, 2026. This moratorium protects current low-income discount rate customers from heat termination — but the protection requires submitting a Financial Hardship Form to your specific utility. Each utility (Eversource, National Grid, Eversource Gas, etc.) has its own version.
Medical circumstances
Massachusetts law provides additional shutoff protections for households with certain medical conditions. A medical certificate signed by a licensed healthcare provider can extend shutoff protections beyond the standard moratorium period. Contact the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) at 877-886-5066 with questions about medical protection procedures.
Families with qualifying household members
Households with children under 12, elderly members (65 and older), or seriously ill residents may qualify for additional protections from shutoff year-round. These protections are subject to rules and are not absolute — contact DPU or your utility to understand exactly what applies to your household’s situation.
How to request protection properly
Submit your utility’s Financial Hardship Form promptly when any shutoff notice is received. Apply for HEAP through ABCD in parallel. Ask your utility about payment arrangements or budget billing. If you believe your utility has not followed proper termination procedures, contact the DPU at 877-886-5066. The Massachusetts Attorney General’s consumer utility guidance also explains your rights as a utility customer.
How Boston Residents Can Layer Utility Assistance Programs
The following is an illustrative example only. It is not a guarantee of eligibility or benefit amounts, which depend on individual household circumstances and available funding at time of application.
Consider a Boston renter in an income-qualified household that uses Eversource for electricity and a gas utility for heat. The household has $600 in past-due electric bills and the furnace is making concerning noises. A layered approach might include:
- HEAP grant: Apply through ABCD for a one-time HEAP payment (up to $850 for utility customers) applied to the heating or electric balance directly.
- Eversource Discount Rate: Qualify for a reduced monthly rate automatically through HEAP eligibility — reducing ongoing bills for the year ahead.
- New Start arrearage management: Enroll through ABCD’s arrearage referral to clear the remaining past-due balance over 12 months with Eversource making up the difference after on-time payments.
- HEARTWAP inspection: Triggered automatically by the HEAP application — if the furnace is found to need repair or replacement, HEARTWAP can address it at no cost to the household.
This sequence addresses both the immediate arrears crisis and the structural equipment concern — which is exactly how Boston’s programs are designed to work together. The critical requirement is a single, complete HEAP application through ABCD that triggers eligibility screening for the connected programs. More detail on how these programs interconnect across the energy crisis landscape is available in the utility and energy crisis resource guide. Households that want to compare how Massachusetts heating assistance stacks up against other states can also review the HEAP program overview for other cold-weather markets to understand how benefit amounts and eligibility work across similar state programs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boston Utility Assistance
Is Massachusetts HEAP the same as LIHEAP?
Yes — HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) is Massachusetts’s implementation of the federal LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program). The federal program provides funding; Massachusetts administers it through EOHLC and local Community Action Agencies like ABCD. Massachusetts uses the name “HEAP” or “Fuel Assistance” locally, but it is the same federal program.
How much does fuel assistance pay in Boston?
The benefit varies by household size, income, fuel type, and housing situation. Standard FY2026 maximums were $850 for utility customers and $1,000 for deliverable-fuel customers. Mid-season, Governor Healey increased these caps to $925 (utilities) and up to $1,400 (deliverable fuels) to address high demand. Some households also receive a High Energy Cost Supplement. The exact amount is calculated using an income/fuel/household matrix — review the official FY2026 benefit chart at mass.gov/heap.
Does ABCD pay my utility bill directly?
Yes. HEAP benefits are paid directly to your heating vendor or utility company on your behalf — ABCD does not write you a check. The payment appears as a credit on your utility or fuel account. This is a federal requirement of the LIHEAP program.
Can renters receive HEAP in Boston?
Yes. HEAP is available to renters as well as homeowners. If heat is included in your rent in subsidized housing, you can receive HEAP if your rent is less than 30% of your income. If heat is included in your rent in private housing, you can receive HEAP regardless of how much rent you pay — the benefit is calculated as 30% of monthly rent up to the maximum benefit amount. Renters who pay utilities separately apply as any other household would.
What does HEARTWAP cover?
HEARTWAP covers repair, replacement, and maintenance of residential heating systems — including furnaces, boilers, and heating equipment — for HEAP-eligible households. It does not pay utility bills. Applying for HEAP through ABCD automatically screens you for HEARTWAP eligibility. The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), also triggered by a HEAP application, covers insulation, air sealing, and energy-efficiency improvements.
Can Eversource shut off electricity in winter in Boston?
Massachusetts’s Winter Moratorium restricts shutoffs for qualifying low-income customers during winter — but this protection is not automatic. You must submit a Financial Hardship Form to Eversource. The 2025–2026 moratorium ran October 27, 2025 through April 1, 2026. Households with certain medical conditions or qualifying members may have additional year-round protections. Contact Eversource at 800-592-2000 and the DPU at 877-886-5066 for specific guidance on your situation.
Apply for HEAP Through ABCD, Then Check Eversource and HEARTWAP
No heat or a shutoff threat? Contact the appropriate agency and utility immediately — the programs work best when pursued at the same time.
Apply online at mass.gov/heap or call ABCD at 617-357-6012
HEAP eligibility automatically unlocks Discount Rate & HEARTWAP screening
Submit your Eversource Financial Hardship Form if you have a shutoff notice
Next season: 2026–2027 online application opens October 1, 2026
Last reviewed August 2026. HEAP benefit amounts, income thresholds, application dates, and program rules are set by federal and state authorities and may change each season or mid-season. Verify current information at mass.gov/heap, bostonabcd.org, or eversource.com before applying. Eligibility is not guaranteed, and program funding is not unlimited.