What a Municipal Light Plant is
Most Massachusetts towns buy electricity from a big company like Eversource or National Grid. Those companies pay into a fund that becomes Mass Save's rebate money.
Some towns never joined that system. Instead, over 100 years ago, they built and still run their own local electric company, owned by the town itself. This is called a Municipal Light Plant, or MLP for short.
Because MLP towns don't pay into the Mass Save fund, Mass Save doesn't offer rebates there. It isn't a punishment — it's just how the funding works.
The confirmed list of excluded towns
Based on our research for a related deep-dive post, here are the Massachusetts towns confirmed to run their own Municipal Light Plant and therefore cannot use Mass Save:
- Abingdon
- Acton
- Arlington
- Ashland
- Belmont
- Berlin
- Boylston
- Braintree
- Chicopee
- Concord
- Danvers
- Essex
- Framingham
- Hingham
- Holyoke
- Hudson
- Hull
- Ipswich
- Lexington
- Lincoln
- Manchester
- Marblehead
- Marion
- Middleborough
- Millbury
- Milton
- Nahant
- Norwood
- Paxton
- Peabody
- Reading
- Salisbury
- Shrewsbury
- Stow
- Swampscott
- Taunton
- Wakefield
- Watertown
- Wellesley
- Westfield
What to do if your town is on this list
1. Federal incentives still apply
Being locked out of Mass Save doesn't lock you out of federal help. The federal HEEHRA rebate and federal energy tax credits are separate programs, not tied to Mass Save eligibility. You can still use them regardless of your local utility.
2. Check if your MLP runs its own program
Many Municipal Light Plants run smaller rebate programs of their own — usually less generous than Mass Save, but real money. Since there are 40-plus different MLPs, each with its own program details, we can't list every one here. Check your own town's municipal utility website directly for current offers.
3. A statewide zero-interest loan option
Massachusetts also runs a Municipal Light Plant zero-interest loan program, built specifically for homeowners in MLP towns who can't access the standard Mass Save HEAT Loan. It lets you borrow for an upgrade and pay it back over time using the energy savings.
FAQ
Why can't my town use Mass Save?
Mass Save is funded by investor-owned utility companies like Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil. Towns with their own Municipal Light Plant don't pay into that fund, so Mass Save can't offer rebates there.
What is a Municipal Light Plant?
An electric utility owned and run by the town itself instead of a private company. Many were set up over a century ago and have stayed independent ever since.
Can I still get federal help if my town isn't eligible for Mass Save?
Yes. Federal incentives like the HEEHRA rebate and federal energy tax credits aren't tied to Mass Save eligibility, so MLP-town homeowners can still use them. Many MLPs also run their own smaller rebate programs — check your town's municipal utility website directly.
Next steps
View all Massachusetts rebate programs →, read the full 41-towns story →, or contact us for questions →