Help Paying Heating Bills in Boston

Boston heating assistance for the 2026-27 winter is open now, and the window matters: the state’s heating season for aid and new utility rates begins Nov. 1. Heating oil costs far more than it did a year ago, gas bills are expected to be close to last winter’s, and the state has added new help for oil-heated homes. Here is what Boston households can expect and where to apply.

Key facts: Boston heating help, winter 2026-27

Aid season: Nov. 1, 2026, to April 30, 2027
Boston agency: Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), 617-357-6012
Income limit for a family of four: $103,049 (60% of state median income)
New oil benefit: up to $680 for households from 60% to 100% of state median income
Statewide hotline: Cold Relief Heatline, 800-632-8175

How Boston homes are heated

Census Bureau figures from the 2024 American Community Survey show that 55% of Boston’s 294,977 occupied homes heat mainly with utility gas. Electricity heats about 34%, and fuel oil or kerosene heats about 5%, or roughly 15,700 households. Another 9,166 homes use propane or other bottled gas.

That mix means most Boston residents will feel natural gas and electric rates more than oil prices, though oil customers face the steepest increase this year.

Heating oil prices: the biggest jump

The governor’s office said on Oct. 5 that the average Massachusetts home heating oil price reached $6.08 a gallon on Sept. 28, up 73% from $3.52 a year earlier. Wholesale prices tracked by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis show the same trend: New York Harbor No. 2 heating oil was $4.83 a gallon on Oct. 20, 2026, compared with $2.12 on Oct. 21, 2025 (FRED series DHOILNYH).

WBUR reported on Oct. 7 that Michael Ferrante, president of the Massachusetts Energy Marketers Association, said prices would likely take several months to fall even if conflicts affecting supply ended, because of needed refinery and pipeline repairs.

Natural gas and electric bills this winter

Gas supply rates reset on Nov. 1, and the Department of Public Utilities is due to issue its winter gas rate orders by that date. According to WCVB, Eversource’s proposal would raise overall bills about 7% for NSTAR Gas customers and lower them about 5% for customers in the former Columbia Gas system. National Grid said bills for legacy Boston Gas customers would stay roughly flat.

A separate National Grid request could raise costs later. The company has asked regulators for about $342 million in added gas distribution revenue. If approved as filed, the state says a typical Boston Gas residential heating customer would pay about $23.66 more per month in winter, an 8.4% increase. The DPU is reviewing that request in docket 26-50.

For electric customers, the state plans to cover the SMART solar program charge on residential bills from January through March 2027. Households that heat with heat pumps can also ask their utility about seasonal heat-pump rates, which lower delivery charges from Nov. 1 through April 30.

Who qualifies for Boston heating assistance

The Home Energy Assistance Program, known as HEAP or fuel assistance, pays part of a household’s heating costs directly to the heating company. Renters and homeowners can apply, including tenants whose heat is included in the rent. Households do not need to be on public assistance or behind on bills.

Income limits for the 2027 fiscal year are $53,585 for one person, $70,073 for two, $86,561 for three and $103,049 for four. The state has added $15 million to raise benefits this winter: oil-heated homes will receive 20% more and utility-heated homes 15% more. Typical benefits previously ranged from about $525 to $1,200.

A new one-time benefit covers oil-heated households earning between 60% and 100% of state median income, up to $171,749 for a family of four. About 50,000 households statewide are expected to qualify. That aid starts in December and runs until April 30 or until funding runs out.

How to apply in Boston

Boston residents apply through ABCD, which also serves Brookline and Newton. Applications can be filed online through the state HEAP portal, by phone or in person by appointment. First-time applicants complete an intake appointment; returning households can renew by mail or online.

Have these ready: photo ID for the head of household, a list of everyone in the home, your heating company and account number, a lease or mortgage statement, and proof of income for the 30 days before you apply.

Households that qualify for HEAP generally receive automatic discounts on investor-owned gas and electric bills. ABCD also refers eligible households to weatherization and heating-system repair programs.

Shutoff protections and other help

State rules protect households facing financial hardship from heating shutoffs between Nov. 15 and March 15. The DPU has asked to extend that window this winter; check with your utility before assuming an extension applies. Citizens Energy has also opened an Emergency Winter Warmth Fund, with donations distributed through local agencies.

For related household costs, see our explainers on Massachusetts taxes, the Boston property tax bill due Nov. 2 and why Boston housing is so expensive. Our snow emergency parking guide covers winter storms, and the Boston crime rate report tracks public safety. More local coverage is on the Boston News hub, and local heating and repair businesses are listed in our Boston business directory.

Frequently asked questions

When can I apply for fuel assistance in Boston?

Applications for the 2026-27 season are open now and are accepted through April 30, 2027. Aid covers heating costs from Nov. 1 to April 30.

What is the income limit for HEAP in Massachusetts?

For fiscal 2027, the limit is $103,049 for a household of four, or 60% of the state’s estimated median income.

Can renters get heating assistance?

Yes. Renters qualify, including those whose heat is included in the rent.

Sources

Additional sources

Photo: Triple-decker porches on Rosseter Street, Dorchester, by Pi.1415926535, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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Boston Heating Assistance 2026-27: Oil Prices, Gas Rates and How to Apply