In this article, learn more about paying utilities like electricity and gas if you rent housing in Massachusetts. Find out what rights and protections you have.
You can also download a printable version of this article as a 2-page PDF handout.
Private housing
The chart below tells you whether you or your landlord pay each type of utility.
| Type of utility | Who pays for the utility? |
|---|---|
| Water | Landlord is usually required to pay. |
| Fuel for hot water | Landlord pays unless you signed a written document saying that the tenant must pay. |
| Fuel for heat | Landlord pays unless you signed a written document saying that the tenant must pay. |
| Electricity and gas | Landlord must pay unless there is a separate meter for your electricity and gas use and a written document says that the tenant must pay. |
Public housing
Check your lease to see if you have to pay utilities. In state public housing, rent is based on your net income and whether you pay utilities. If you live in federal public housing and pay for utilities, a Utility Allowance gets subtracted from your monthly rent. Each housing authority sets its own Utility Allowance.
Section 8 or MRVP Voucher
Check your lease. The Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) and the Federal Section 8 voucher programs may give you a "Utility Allowance." A Utility Allowance is a certain amount of money provided monthly. Your housing authority decides on the amount of your Utility Allowance based on the average cost of utilities where you live for similar household sizes. You only get this Allowance if you’re responsible for paying utilities.
For more about MRVP Utility Allowances, see the Boston Housing Authority Utility Allowance Chart.
For more about Section 8 Utility Allowances, see Regional Section 8 Utility Allowances.
Foreclosure
If your landlord faces foreclosure, see Utilities After a Foreclosure to learn more.
If you signed an agreement to pay for gas or electricity, contact the gas or electric company when you move in.
They may let you ask to begin a new service over the phone. Some companies ask you to fill out a form and provide proof of identity. But you do not need to be a citizen or have legal status in the U.S. to get utility service.
If you can't pay your current bill:
You may get a discounted rate. Gas and electric companies are required to offer discounts if your income is low and you receive government assistance like HEAP (formerly LIHEAP), SSI, SNAP food benefits, or Head Start. See Can I get a discount on my utilities?
If you need help to pay your heating bill, find out if you qualify for the Fuel Assistance (HEAP) Program. Call 800-632-8175.
If you are behind on payments:
Ask your utility company about payment plans, which are available to all customers. If you qualify for Arrearage Management Programs, every time you pay a bill on time, you get a credit on your past due bill.
If you owe a bill from a prior address:
A utility company might not turn on your new service until you pay off your bill from a prior address. Contact the company to negotiate a payment plan. Do not agree to pay an amount you cannot afford. See What can I do if I owe money from a previous address?
To learn more, see Get Help to Pay Your Bills.
You may also be able to get help from a rental assistance program. You must be financially eligible. See Apply for RAFT (emergency help for housing costs).
If you haven’t paid utility bills at your current address, the utility company can shut off your service. But they must follow certain rules.
- If you have charges from a prior address or there are charges a prior tenant owes, your utility company cannot shut off your services.
- If all residents of your home are age 65 and over, your electricity or gas cannot be shut off without permission from the Department of Public Utilities.
- If your household is low-income or you are experiencing financial hardship, a utility company cannot shut off your services if:
- You have an infant under age 1;
- All adults in your home are 65 or older and a minor child lives in the home; or
- Someone in the household has a serious or chronic illness, whether physical or mental/emotional. The illness must be certified by a letter from a medical professional.
- Special winter protections: If you cannot afford heat from November 15 to March 15, an electric or gas company cannot shut off your service. Sometimes this protection lasts until April. To get this protection, ask the company for a financial hardship application. Learn more about winter protections.
- If your landlord is responsible for utilities and doesn’t pay, the utility company must give you at least 30 days' notice before they shut off your service.
To learn more, see Rights During the Termination Process and Protections Against Shutoffs.
A landlord must provide heat from September 15 through May 31.
If the heat goes off, call your landlord right away. If you cannot reach the landlord or they do not fix the problem, call the local Board of Health. Tell them there is a problem with the heat. The law requires them to do their best to inspect your apartment within 24 hours. For more, see Legal Tactics, Chapter 8: Getting Repairs Made.
If your landlord turns off your heat, you can also ask a court to order the landlord to turn the heat back on.
If your utility company doesn't fix a problem, ask them to protect your service until the issue is resolved.
If they haven’t shut off your service already, they cannot shut it off while they are resolving the dispute.
If the utility company does not help you, contact the Department of Public Utilities. You can
- call them at 1-877-886-5066,
- email them at [email protected], or
- fill out their online complaint form.
It depends on what type of housing you live in.
Private Housing
Look at your lease. Your lease should say your rental amount. It should also include whether you are responsible for utilities. If there’s no written lease, the landlord must usually pay utilities (unless there is a separate written document requiring you to pay).
Public Housing
Paying for some or all of your utilities will affect your rent. Utilities generally include electricity, gas, and oil but not telephone or cable TV. There are different rules for state and federal public housing.
| State public housing | For elderly/disabled public housing, your rent will be:
For family public housing, your rent will be:
|
|---|---|
| Federal public housing | For federal public housing, you usually pay whichever is more:
If your household includes immigrants, you usually pay a prorated rent which is often much higher than the regular rent. |
Private housing
The chart below tells you whether you or your landlord pay each type of utility.
| Type of utility | Who pays for the utility? |
|---|---|
| Water | Landlord is usually required to pay. |
| Fuel for hot water | Landlord pays unless you signed a written document saying that the tenant must pay. |
| Fuel for heat | Landlord pays unless you signed a written document saying that the tenant must pay. |
| Electricity and gas | Landlord must pay unless there is a separate meter for your electricity and gas use and a written document says that the tenant must pay. |
Public housing
Check your lease to see if you have to pay utilities. In state public housing, rent is based on your net income and whether you pay utilities. If you live in federal public housing and pay for utilities, a Utility Allowance gets subtracted from your monthly rent. Each housing authority sets its own Utility Allowance.
Section 8 or MRVP Voucher
Check your lease. The Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) and the Federal Section 8 voucher programs may give you a "Utility Allowance." A Utility Allowance is a certain amount of money provided monthly. Your housing authority decides on the amount of your Utility Allowance based on the average cost of utilities where you live for similar household sizes. You only get this Allowance if you’re responsible for paying utilities.
For more about MRVP Utility Allowances, see the Boston Housing Authority Utility Allowance Chart.
For more about Section 8 Utility Allowances, see Regional Section 8 Utility Allowances.
Foreclosure
If your landlord faces foreclosure, see Utilities After a Foreclosure to learn more.
If you signed an agreement to pay for gas or electricity, contact the gas or electric company when you move in.
They may let you ask to begin a new service over the phone. Some companies ask you to fill out a form and provide proof of identity. But you do not need to be a citizen or have legal status in the U.S. to get utility service.
If you can't pay your current bill:
You may get a discounted rate. Gas and electric companies are required to offer discounts if your income is low and you receive government assistance like HEAP (formerly LIHEAP), SSI, SNAP food benefits, or Head Start. See Can I get a discount on my utilities?
If you need help to pay your heating bill, find out if you qualify for the Fuel Assistance (HEAP) Program. Call 800-632-8175.
If you are behind on payments:
Ask your utility company about payment plans, which are available to all customers. If you qualify for Arrearage Management Programs, every time you pay a bill on time, you get a credit on your past due bill.
If you owe a bill from a prior address:
A utility company might not turn on your new service until you pay off your bill from a prior address. Contact the company to negotiate a payment plan. Do not agree to pay an amount you cannot afford. See What can I do if I owe money from a previous address?
To learn more, see Get Help to Pay Your Bills.
You may also be able to get help from a rental assistance program. You must be financially eligible. See Apply for RAFT (emergency help for housing costs).
If you haven’t paid utility bills at your current address, the utility company can shut off your service. But they must follow certain rules.
- If you have charges from a prior address or there are charges a prior tenant owes, your utility company cannot shut off your services.
- If all residents of your home are age 65 and over, your electricity or gas cannot be shut off without permission from the Department of Public Utilities.
- If your household is low-income or you are experiencing financial hardship, a utility company cannot shut off your services if:
- You have an infant under age 1;
- All adults in your home are 65 or older and a minor child lives in the home; or
- Someone in the household has a serious or chronic illness, whether physical or mental/emotional. The illness must be certified by a letter from a medical professional.
- Special winter protections: If you cannot afford heat from November 15 to March 15, an electric or gas company cannot shut off your service. Sometimes this protection lasts until April. To get this protection, ask the company for a financial hardship application. Learn more about winter protections.
- If your landlord is responsible for utilities and doesn’t pay, the utility company must give you at least 30 days' notice before they shut off your service.
To learn more, see Rights During the Termination Process and Protections Against Shutoffs.
A landlord must provide heat from September 15 through May 31.
If the heat goes off, call your landlord right away. If you cannot reach the landlord or they do not fix the problem, call the local Board of Health. Tell them there is a problem with the heat. The law requires them to do their best to inspect your apartment within 24 hours. For more, see Legal Tactics, Chapter 8: Getting Repairs Made.
If your landlord turns off your heat, you can also ask a court to order the landlord to turn the heat back on.
If your utility company doesn't fix a problem, ask them to protect your service until the issue is resolved.
If they haven’t shut off your service already, they cannot shut it off while they are resolving the dispute.
If the utility company does not help you, contact the Department of Public Utilities. You can
- call them at 1-877-886-5066,
- email them at [email protected], or
- fill out their online complaint form.
It depends on what type of housing you live in.
Private Housing
Look at your lease. Your lease should say your rental amount. It should also include whether you are responsible for utilities. If there’s no written lease, the landlord must usually pay utilities (unless there is a separate written document requiring you to pay).
Public Housing
Paying for some or all of your utilities will affect your rent. Utilities generally include electricity, gas, and oil but not telephone or cable TV. There are different rules for state and federal public housing.
| State public housing | For elderly/disabled public housing, your rent will be:
For family public housing, your rent will be:
|
|---|---|
| Federal public housing | For federal public housing, you usually pay whichever is more:
If your household includes immigrants, you usually pay a prorated rent which is often much higher than the regular rent. |
This article is an overview. For more detailed information, see Legal Tactics, Chapter 6: Utilities.