National Grid Massachusetts Gas Rate Case DPU 26-50

What National Grid filed in DPU 26-50

National Grid's Massachusetts gas rate case (DPU 26-50) seeks additional revenue to recover distribution system investments, safety programs, and operating costs [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]. Public materials associated with the filing describe a request on the order of $342 million [ng-ma-rate-case-2026].

The procedural calendar targets a Department of Public Utilities decision by November 30, 2026, with new rates effective January 1, 2027 [ng-ma-rate-case-2026].

This proceeding is gas delivery, not electric supply. Massachusetts electric basic service rose on August 1, 2026 for Eversource and National Grid customers [ma-basic-service-rates]; see our August 2026 basic service post for the electric side.

Why indoor operators track gas even when lights are electric

Most Massachusetts canopy runs on electric horticultural lighting subject to Cannabis Control Commission energy rules. Gas still shows up in cultivation P&Ls when operators use:

• Gas-fired HVAC or make-up air in cold months
• Boilers for hydronic heat in veg or drying rooms
• CO2 enrichment from natural gas combustion (see CO2 supplementation energy cost)
• CHP systems exporting power while capturing heat

Each pathway bills gas delivery through National Grid Massachusetts even if electric supply is on competitive retail service.

Energy stream	Rate driver in 2026–27
Electric supply	Aug 2026 basic service reset
Electric delivery	Utility tariff + demand
Gas delivery	DPU 26-50 outcome Jan 2027

Worked example: gas therm cost sensitivity

Inputs we chose; replace with your meter.

Input	Value
Winter gas use	8,000 therms/month
Illustrative all-in gas price	$1.45/therm (delivery + commodity input)
Monthly gas spend	$11,600
If DPU grants half the request*	+3% effective → +$348/month

*Illustration only. Actual bill impact depends on DPU's final order dividing revenue by class [ng-ma-rate-case-2026].

A 3% gas increase does not sound like electric basic service jumping from 15.63¢ to 17.32¢ [from er-eversource-aug-2026 context], but gas runs continuously in winter peaks. Model both fuels before approving CapEx for gas CHP.

Electric vs gas planning for Massachusetts grows

Massachusetts cultivators face dual resets:

1. Electric basic service every February and August [ma-basic-service-rates]
2. Gas delivery potentially January 2027 from DPU 26-50 [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]

Competitive electric supply shopping does not change gas delivery outcomes. Gas competitive supply may be available for some C&I accounts; confirm eligibility separately.

Energy efficiency programs (Mass Save and utility incentives) may touch both fuels. Pre-approval rules still apply for horticultural lighting rebates on the electric side.

What to do before January 2027

1. Tag gas therms on National Grid bills separately from electric kWh.
2. Read DPU 26-50 testimony summaries on National Grid's rate case site as decisions near November 30, 2026 [ng-ma-rate-case-2026].
3. If modeling CHP, stress-test both January gas rates and summer electric peaks.
4. Coordinate with Massachusetts cultivation energy guidance on lighting limits and renewable waivers.

Takeaway

DPU 26-50 is National Grid's ~$342 million Massachusetts gas proceeding with decision timing November 30, 2026 and rates January 1, 2027 [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]. Electric supply shocks and gas delivery cases are on different calendars.

Cannabis operators should budget thermal and electric paths independently, then optimize total energy dollars rather than chasing electric supply savings while ignoring gas delivery risk.

CHP and greenhouse operators

Massachusetts greenhouse cultivators sometimes run gas heat with supplemental electric light. DPU 26-50 gas delivery outcomes affect thermal BTUs per dollar independently from electric basic service [ng-ma-rate-case-2026].

Model $/therm delivered after January 2027 separately from ¢/kWh supply on the electric meter.

Dual-fuel budgeting template

Fuel	2026 planning input	2027 risk
Electric supply	Aug basic service reset	Feb 2027 reset
Electric delivery	Utility tariff	Storm riders
Gas delivery	Current tariff	DPU 26-50 order [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]
Gas commodity	Market	Winter strip

Intervention timeline for stakeholders

National Grid's November 30, 2026 decision target means intervenor testimony lands in late summer and fall [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]. Trade associations sometimes file C&I impact studies late in cases. Cultivators rarely intervene individually but can support efficiency program funding that offsets gas and electric waste.

Electric-gas cross hedging limits

You cannot financially hedge Massachusetts delivery charges in retail supply markets. Gas choice may exist for your account class; confirm with National Grid account executives before assuming dual commodity contracts solve DPU 26-50 delivery increases [ng-ma-rate-case-2026].

DPU proceeding participation

DPU 26-50 intervenors often file direct testimony in September-October ahead of the November 30, 2026 decision target [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]. Final class cost allocation can shift C&I therm rates away from residential assumptions in early press summaries.

Rate case website filings

National Grid's Rate Case 2026-MAG site hosts testimony, schedules, and intervenor lists as DPU 26-50 proceeds [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]. C&I gas customers should download direct testimony on class allocation rather than relying on residential press summaries when modeling January 1, 2027 therm costs [ng-ma-rate-case-2026].

January 1 2027 effective date

Rates from DPU 26-50 target January 1, 2027 implementation after November 30, 2026 decision [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]. Overlap with February 2027 electric basic service reset requires dual-fuel scenario planning [ng-ma-rate-case-2026] [ma-basic-service-rates].

$342M request context

Public materials associate DPU 26-50 with roughly $342 million in incremental gas revenue needs [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]. Final granted revenue may differ after intervention [ng-ma-rate-case-2026].

Track DPU 26-50 testimony

Download intervenor testimony when posted so therm forecasts reflect C&I classes, not residential press examples [ng-ma-rate-case-2026].

Safety and pipeline capex driving the $342M ask

National Grid's DPU 26-50 filing ties higher revenue to distribution safety, leak repair, pipeline replacement, and operating cost inflation [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]. Gas rate cases are not tied to electric basic service auctions; they follow their own test year and class cost allocation schedules [ng-ma-rate-case-2026].

Cannabis operators using gas-fired make-up air or CO2 from combustion should read testimony on C&I therm rates, not residential $/month examples in press releases. A 3% effective increase on 8,000 winter therms is real money even when electric supply steals attention [ng-ma-rate-case-2026].

When gas beats electric for post-harvest thermal loads

Drying rooms and VPD control sometimes use gas heat with electric dehumidification. DPU 26-50 moves the $/therm delivered leg of that hybrid system starting January 1, 2027 if the order holds [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]. Electric August 2026 basic service near 17.32 cents on Eversource makes gas heat look attractive until gas delivery rises in parallel [ma-basic-service-rates].

Run a dual-fuel breakeven with your engineer: if gas therm prices rise 5% while electric kWh stays flat, the optimal mix shifts. See CO2 supplementation energy cost and Massachusetts cultivation facility energy for process loads that couple both fuels.

Competitive gas supply versus delivery increases

Massachusetts allows competitive gas supply for some C&I accounts, but National Grid still bills delivery through DPU 26-50 outcomes [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]. Commodity savings from a gas marketer do not cap distribution revenue the case seeks.

Electric supply shopping under Massachusetts switching rules is a separate decision from gas commodity contracts. Tag therms and kWh on separate GL codes so finance can see which fuel moved when November 30, 2026 decision language publishes [ng-ma-rate-case-2026].

Greenhouse gas heat with electric supplemental light

Massachusetts greenhouse cultivators sometimes run gas heat with supplemental electric light [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]. DPU 26-50 outcomes affect thermal BTUs per dollar independently from electric basic service near 17.32 cents on Eversource [ma-basic-service-rates]. Model $/therm delivered after January 1, 2027 separately from ¢/kWh supply [ng-ma-rate-case-2026].

Intervenor testimony calendar

National Grid's November 30, 2026 decision target means intervenor testimony lands in late summer and fall [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]. C&I gas customers should download direct testimony on class allocation from the Rate Case 2026-MAG site rather than relying on residential press summaries [ng-ma-rate-case-2026].

Overlap with February 2027 electric basic service

DPU 26-50 gas rates target January 1, 2027 [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]. Electric basic service resets February 1, 2027 [ma-basic-service-rates]. Dual-fuel cultivators face two supply shocks within five weeks if both fuels rise. Stress-test CHP economics under both outcomes before CapEx approval [ng-ma-rate-case-2026].

$342 million request versus granted revenue

Public materials associate DPU 26-50 with roughly $342 million in incremental gas revenue needs [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]. Final granted revenue may differ after intervention [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]. Budget cash to actual bills, not filed asks alone, through November 30, 2026 decision timing [ng-ma-rate-case-2026].

CHP export and standby charges

Facilities running CHP may export kWh while importing gas therms [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]. Standby and backup charges on the electric side interact with gas delivery outcomes [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]. Model both meters with National Grid Massachusetts utility context before approving gas-heavy CapEx [ng-ma-rate-case-2026].

Dual-fuel budgeting template for 2026–27

Fuel	2026 planning input	2027 risk
Electric supply	Aug basic service reset [ma-basic-service-rates]	Feb 2027 reset
Electric delivery	Utility tariff	Storm riders
Gas delivery	Current tariff	DPU 26-50 order [ng-ma-rate-case-2026]
Gas commodity	Market strip	Winter pricing

Cannabis operators should budget thermal and electric paths independently, then optimize total energy dollars rather than chasing electric supply savings while ignoring January 2027 gas delivery outcomes [ng-ma-rate-case-2026] [ma-basic-service-rates].