Illustrative Case: Boston-Area Dispensary Fixes Eversource G-1 Supply on Small Commercial Rates

The facility and starting situation

Assume a single adult-use Marijuana Retailer in Somerville on an Eversource Eastern Massachusetts account in ISO New England [ma-gl-164-1f]. The lease is 4,800 square feet of retail floor, back-of-house storage, and a secure vault. Massachusetts marijuana establishments crossed $10 billion in gross sales statewide in September 2026 press reporting [ma-ccc-10b-sales-2026]. This store opened in 2024 and runs 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

Loads are typical retail cannabis: display and accent lighting, RTU HVAC, 24-hour security and cameras, POS and network gear, and two reach-in refrigerators. Summers are short but humid: 516 cooling degree days statewide with dew points in the mid-60s to low-70s F in river valleys [noaa-cag-massachusetts]. Winter heating adds base load from November through March [noaa-cag-massachusetts].

Peak demand averages 42 kW over twelve months, well below the G-1 threshold of 100 kW average demand [eversource-ema-rates-2026]. The account elected G-1 non-demand pricing, so delivery is billed entirely per kWh rather than with a $22.31 per kW distribution demand charge that applies on the G-1 demand option above 10 kW [eversource-ema-rates-2026].

Supply was Eversource Basic Service on the default 6-month fixed price for small C&I customers [ma-dpu-basic-service]. The owner had not compared competitive supplier offers. See typical dispensary electric bill for how small retail loads stack up.

Monthly usage averages 9,800 kWh (117,600 kWh a year). At the EIA June 2026 Massachusetts commercial average of 24.52 cents per kWh, that volume implies about $28,800 a year at average prices [eia-epm-5-6-a].

What the baseline bills showed

The table uses one representative month. Tariff structure is cited; supply cents are modeled.

Line item	Assumption or rate	Monthly
Floor area	4,800 sq ft
Peak demand	42 kW (assumed)	42 kW
Usage	9,800 kWh	9,800 kWh
Rate class	G-1 non-demand [eversource-ema-rates-2026]
Delivery energy (modeled)	Assume 8.2 cents per kWh	~$804
Customer charge (modeled)	Assume $12	$12
Basic Service supply (modeled)	Assume 13.4 cents per kWh	~$1,313
EE and renewable riders (modeled)	Assume 2.0 cents per kWh	~$196
Modeled total		~$2,325

Annualized modeled all-in spend: about $27,900 (23.7 cents per kWh). That is below the EIA state commercial average because this small load avoids demand charges and has moderate HVAC run hours [eia-epm-5-6-a] [eversource-ema-rates-2026].

The DPU places residential and small C&I Basic Service customers on a 6-month fixed price by default, procured twice per year as the weighted average of six monthly prices [ma-dpu-basic-service]. When the fixed period ends, the supply line can step up or down on the next procurement cycle.

What changed

The operator treated supply as a straightforward procurement task because delivery has no demand lever at this size.

Bill review. See understanding your commercial utility bill. The supply line was 13.4 cents per kWh in the modeled month; delivery and riders were 10.2 cents combined.

Competitive quotes. Massachusetts allows all Eversource customers to buy from DPU-licensed competitive suppliers [ma-dpu-basic-service] [ma-gl-164-1f]. Three suppliers bid; the winner offered 12.3 cents per kWh fixed for 18 months on supply and RPS compliance [ma-dpu-competitive-supply-overview].

Enrollment timing. Switching completed in March before summer cooling load, following the Massachusetts switching guide. Eversource remained the delivery utility on one bill [ma-dpu-competitive-supply-overview].

Load ceiling check. At 42 kW the store stays in G-1 non-demand service [eversource-ema-rates-2026]. The operator requested Mass Save lighting and controls rebates before adding display cases that could push peak demand [masssave-business-rebates]. Goal: stay under 100 kW average and avoid G-2 demand billing.

The math after

Compare modeled Basic Service to the fixed supplier contract on 117,600 kWh a year. Delivery is unchanged.

Component	Before (annual, modeled)	After (annual, modeled)	Notes
Eversource delivery + riders	~$12,100 at 10.3 cents	~$12,100	Unchanged
Basic Service supply + RPS	~$15,800 at 13.4 cents		6-month fixed default
Fixed competitive supply		~$14,500 at 12.3 cents	18-month term
Modeled all-in	~$27,900	~$26,600	~$1,300/year

Per kWh supply savings: 1.1 cents on 117,600 kWh equals about $1,294 a year. As a share of total spend, that is roughly 4.7 percent. Small in absolute dollars, but the owner valued predictability across the next Basic Service reset [ma-dpu-basic-service].

Napkin check the owner used:

Assumed annual kWh:     117,600
Basic Service supply:   117,600 × $0.134 = $15,758
Fixed supplier supply:  117,600 × $0.123 = $14,465
Modeled supply spread:              ≈ $1,293/year
Delivery (same both paths):         ≈ $12,100/year

Delivery stayed flat because G-1 non-demand service does not bill a kW demand charge at this load level [eversource-ema-rates-2026]. That is why dispensary retail energy costs focus on supply and kWh efficiency, not interval scheduling.

If peak demand had reached 110 kW average, the account could move to G-2 Medium General Service with distribution demand at $20.21 per kW and transmission demand at $13.74 per kW [eversource-ema-rates-2026]. At 110 kW that adds roughly $3,730 per month in demand charges alone, far more than the supply spread. The LED retrofit quote through Mass Save was cheap insurance [masssave-business-rebates].

What did not work

Chasing a sub-11 cent supply rate. One broker advertised 11.5 cents but added a monthly fee and index capacity pass-through. All-in matched 12.3 cents fixed.

Delaying switch until summer. July and August added 1,200 kWh per month from HVAC. Fixing supply before that run captured the higher-volume months on the new rate.

Assuming delivery savings from supplier choice. Competitive supply does not reduce Eversource distribution energy charges [ma-dpu-competitive-supply-overview].

Ignoring the 100 kW G-1 ceiling. A second freezer line and upgraded security heaters pushed interval peak to 58 kW in a stress test. The operator proceeded with LED upgrades before equipment arrived.

Eversource and National Grid default resets

Massachusetts default supply prices shift on utility-specific schedules. Fixed ESCO contracts hedge supply for the term; delivery charges continue on the utility tariff. Compare all-in ESCO offers to the current default benchmark before renewal [eia-epm-5-6-a].

G-1 non-demand advantage for small retail

Eversource rate G-1 in Eastern Massachusetts bills delivery primarily on kWh without a monthly demand charge at this load level [eversource-ema-rates-2026]. Supply procurement dominates savings levers. Keep peak kW below demand thresholds when adding refrigeration or EV ports so the account does not graduate to G-2 unintentionally.

Basic Service comparison math at 9,800 kWh per month

At 9,800 kWh monthly, 1.1 cents supply savings is about $108 per month or $1,296 per year (inputs). Small dollars per store still matter for thin retail margins when multiplied across a chain. G-1 accounts should protect non-demand status when adding load [eversource-ema-rates-2026].

Flagship store refrigeration add-on

Adding refrigerated beverage walls after opening can push kWh and peak kW simultaneously. Re-run rate class check before assuming G-1 status continues [eversource-ema-rates-2026].

Basic Service versus fixed ESCO at low kWh volume

At roughly 9,800 kWh per month, each 0.1 cent supply savings is about $118 per year. Chains multiply that across stores. G-1 non-demand status is worth protecting: a single 10 kW peak miscalculation on a demand class could cost more than supply savings [eversource-ema-rates-2026] [ma-dpu-basic-service].

Chain roll-up and Basic Service benchmarks

Acquired Massachusetts dispensaries may sit on expired ESCO contracts rolling month-to-month. Pull Basic Service benchmark at diligence and compare to fixed offers before assuming the seller's supply rate is market [ma-dpu-basic-service] [eversource-ema-rates-2026].

AP coding after ESCO enrollment

Train accounts payable to code supply to the ESCO vendor and delivery to Eversource even on consolidated bills. Misclassified GL rows hide savings during month-end close [ma-dpu-basic-service].

Holiday lighting and peak kW

Seasonal facade lighting can bump peak kW on small accounts. Schedule holiday circuits off overlapping refrigeration test days when logging interval peaks [eversource-ema-rates-2026].

Holiday lighting and peak kW

Seasonal facade lighting can bump peak kW on small accounts. Schedule holiday circuits off overlapping refrigeration test days when logging interval peaks [eversource-ema-rates-2026].

Winter heating kWh on G-1 accounts

Boston-area G-1 stores use more winter HVAC kWh than summer cooling kWh given Massachusetts heating degree day normals [noaa-cag-massachusetts]. Budget seasonal kWh swings separately from supply rate changes when comparing Basic Service to fixed ESCO offers [ma-dpu-basic-service].

Lessons that transfer to other Massachusetts dispensary operators

On Eversource G-1 non-demand service, supply is the negotiable line; delivery rides are fixed by tariff [eversource-ema-rates-2026]. Small C&I Basic Service defaults to 6-month fixed pricing, not monthly floats [ma-dpu-basic-service]. Compare all-in supply including RPS [ma-dpu-competitive-supply-overview]. Watch average demand against the 100 kW G-1 limit before you add load [eversource-ema-rates-2026]. Full retail choice applies on Eversource and National Grid [ma-gl-164-1f]. See the dispensary retail energy page, the Eversource utility page, and the FAQ on supplier choice.