April is designated as National Safe Digging Month, and National Grid is reminding anyone planning on digging to call 811 to prevent damage to underground utilities or even injuries or property damage. Before digging for any size project whether planting new bushes or trees, installing mailboxes, or building a shed or deck call to 811 is critical to know what is below before digging. Dig Safe is a free service to use and National Grid remains committed to emphasizing the program’s importance to avoid damages or service outages in local communities.

Each year, damages to buried utilities cost the U.S. approximately $30 billion in repairs and societal impacts.  While backhoes are the #1 tool used when buried utilities are damaged, shovels are #2 meaning even small projects can have big impacts. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call to 811. It's not only the safe and smart thing to do – it's the law. Failure to call 811 may be punishable by fines, which can be as high as $1,000 for a first offense and $10,000 for subsequent violations. A call to 811 is the best safeguard and the first line of defense for preventing strikes on underground utility lines.

Utility lines must be appropriately marked in each previously marked location to avoid risk but their depth can vary due to factors like erosion, previous digging projects, and uneven surfaces. National Grid works closely with local fire and police departments; with their strong support, people are calling before they dig. Calling 811 can avoid an incident that requires police and fire response.

Digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can result in serious injury or death, inconvenient service disruptions, and costly fines and repairs. Hitting underground gas, electric, communications, water, and sewer lines while digging can have a major impact on communities and businesses.

•  Making a free request before digging online at http://www.811beforeyoudig.com/ or by calling 811 will help everyone who digs maintain essential utility service for their communities.

As part of National Safe Digging Month, National Grid encourages everyone to take the following steps when planning a digging project this spring:

Plan ahead. Always contact 811 before digging, regardless of the depth or familiarity with the property. 

• Massachusetts law requires you to contact Dig Safe at least 72 business hours in advance in advance of projects requiring excavation.

• Confirm that all lines have been marked.  
• Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings. 
• If a contractor has been hired, confirm that the contractor contacted 811. Do not allow work to begin if the lines are not marked. 
• Visit www.811beforeyoudig.com for complete information.
• The service is easy to use and free of charge.

Additional Resources:

• Massachusetts: Call 811 or 1-888-DIG-SAFE (344-7233) | digsafe.com
• When It Comes to 811, There’s No Kidding Around – National Grid Safety video

National Grid will host a series of statewide Customer Assistance events during April 2026, with advocates visiting every region within the utility’s Massachusetts footprint. As the weather warms up, customers can still get help managing their energy bills, including support with costs from the winter months and planning ahead for future usage.

In addition, National Grid reminds customers that applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), commonly referred to as Fuel Assistance, will close on April 30, 2026. Customers can find eligibility criteria and the program application on the Massachusetts Home Energy Assistance Program website or they can connect with a local Fuel Assistance Agency for help with the process.

The statewide events are part of the utility’s commitment to helping customers manage bill impacts. National Grid’s Customer Service Specialists experts will be on hand to manage seasonal energy bills and explore cost-saving programs to meet each customer’s needs, highlighting programs such as:

• National Grid’s Payment Assistance Bundle;
• Budget Billing;
• The Energy Discount Rate (for qualifying customers);
• Home energy assessments; and
• Information on other energy efficiency opportunities for homes or businesses.

These events are free and are a core part of National Grid’s broader commitment to affordability and reliability. Customers can find information about upcoming sessions on our Customer Assistance webpage or learn more about managing winter energy bills at ngrid.com/hereforyou. They can also request assistance by calling 1-800-233-5325.

Additional Customer Assistance Information

Help with Managing Energy Bills:

National Grid is committed to delivering safe and reliable energy to the customers and communities we serve. We recognize that affordability is a significant concern, and National Grid offers various programs and services to help customers save energy, manage their bills, and access financial assistance. It is not too late to explore programs that help manage energy costs, including signing up for a Payment Assistance Bundle. The bundle combines three helpful solutions to make it easier for managing energy costs and paying down past due amounts over a 12-month period.

• Deferred Payment Agreement: Spread out past-due balance into future monthly payments.
• Automatic Monthly Payments: Automatically deduct payments from your bank account each month and avoid missing due dates.
• Budget Plan: Break down annual energy costs into balanced monthly payments, making it easier to budget and plan expenses.

Customers interested in enrolling in the Payment Assistance Bundle can do so online by visiting ngrid.com/hereforyou, at an in-person event, or by calling 1-800-233-5325.

• Budget Billing: Allows customers to spread their usual payment over twelve balanced monthly payments to help offset the traditionally high winter heating and summer air conditioning peak bills. Doing so makes it easier to anticipate monthly energy costs and plan household budgets. Additional information can be found here. 
• Discount Rates: Income-eligible customers may qualify for a discounted rate on energy service. To be eligible, applicants must be a National Grid customer and already enrolled in an eligible benefit program or the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Visit the Discount Rate application to determine eligibility and apply.
• Heat Pump Rate: National Grid introduced a new Residential Heat Pump Rate November 1st to help electric customers save during the winter heating season. Qualified customers who use heat pumps for home heating will receive a reduced delivery rate on electricity from November through April, lowering monthly costs. Customers who think they qualify but did not receive an enrollment confirmation should visit ngrid.com/heatpumprate to fill out the enrollment form to apply and ensure they receive the discount.

The application period for MassDEP’s Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) Municipal Grant Program opened today. The SMRP is designed to increase the diversion of materials from the solid waste stream through waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting programs and to decrease the toxicity of the waste treat through household hazardous waste diversion and use of environmentally preferred products.

Municipalities and regional government entities (e.g. regional planning authorities, regional solid waste districts, and regional recycling cooperatives) are eligible to apply. Grant applications are due by 11:59 PM on June 1, 2026. The following six SMRP grant categories are being offered in the 2026 cycle, with more information on the categories available on MassDEP’s website: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-sustainable-materials-recovery-program-smrp-municipal-grant.

• Drop-off Recycling Equipment
• Food Waste Collection Carts
• Pay-As-You-Throw Program Funds
• Recycling Dividends Program
• Regional Small-Scale Initiatives
• Waste Reduction/Organics Capacity/Permanent Hazardous Household Waste Facility Project Proposals

A virtual information session for interested applications will be held on April 2, 2026 and questions from interested applicants must be submitted to MassDEP by May 1, 2026:

• Applicants can register for the information session here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9VolrqE6RsOeIMShCZ9F1w#/registration.  

Applicant questions should be submitted here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Fh2GPrdIDkqYBowE2Bt7KhMNn3Cxm89LhyiVrkttmXxUODVMMVQ5WkJTTTdWQTRWMDRVUUhETU0xMS4u&route=shorturl

Governor Maura Healey today announced a series of summer fare promotions and discounts on the MBTA Commuter Rail to lower costs for riders, support regular commuters and encourage more people to choose public transportation as Massachusetts prepares for a busy season of major events across the state. The following fare promotions will be available through June, July and August 2026:  

Free Summer Fridays

All Commuter Rail service will be free on Fridays in June, July, and August 2026, including Juneteenth and July 3. Regular fares will be in place for Boston Stadium Trains, the CapeFLYER, and any other special event trains to Foxboro. 

50% Discount on Monthly Commuter Rail Passes

Calendar month Commuter Rail passes for June, July, and August 2026 will be discounted by 50%. This discount applies to full fare and reduced fare monthly passes for Zones 1 through 10, Interzone 1 through 10, and Commuter Ferry passes. This discount will not apply to Zone 1A passes. All non-calendar month Commuter Rail products (for example, single-ride tickets, 5-Day Flex Passes, and Weekend Passes) will remain at their standard prices. 

Expanded Weekend Travel for Monthly Pass Holders

Monthly Commuter Rail passes will be valid for travel to any zone on weekends. Zone 1 through 10 pass holders may travel through Zone 10, and Interzone pass holders may travel through Interzone 10. This does not apply to Zone 1A passes or ferry service. Regular fares will be in place for Boston Stadium Trains, the CapeFLYER, and any other special event trains to Foxboro. 

$1 Weekend “Summer Companion” Fare for Commuter Rail Monthly Pass Holders

Monthly pass holders may bring one companion on any weekend Commuter Rail trip covered by their pass for $1 each way. This offer is limited to one companion per pass holder. Regular fares will remain in place for Boston Stadium trains, the CapeFLYER, and other special event trains to Foxboro.  

To support increased ridership during the FIFA World Cup, the MBTA will temporarily adjust Commuter Rail schedules in June and July, including expanded service to accommodate up to 20,000 passengers on 14 trains per match day to Boston Stadium. 

The MBTA recognizes these temporary schedule changes may affect regular riders. These fare discounts are intended to offset those impacts, support regular riders, and encourage more people to choose transit during a busy summer season and beyond.

The MBTA today announced service changes in April on the Red, Green, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Lowell, Newburyport/Rockport, New Bedford/Fall River, Greenbush, and Kingston Commuter Rail lines.  

Riders can find more information on service changes through in-station signage, in-station public announcements, and at mbta.com/PlannedWork. Transit Ambassadors and MBTA staff will be available on-site to offer information and assistance during these service changes. Riders are encouraged to subscribe to T-Alerts or to follow the MBTA on X @MBTA, @MBTA_CR, and @MBTA_CR_Alerts for up-to-date service information.   

With tax filing season underway and the deadline a month away, you may be interested in these additional resources on tax credits and filing assistance, primarily through the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program.

National Grid will continue hosting a series of statewide Customer Assistance events in March 2026, including a new pilot program to support seniors with energy affordability options.  The statewide series of events is part of the utility’s commitment to help customers manage their energy bills, particularly helpful in the wake of the extreme cold of January 2026 and the February 2026 blizzard, events which led to increased energy usage by customers.

National Grid’s customer service experts are available to help customers manage seasonal energy bills and explore cost-saving programs to meet each household’s needs, including how to:

• Enroll in National Grid’s new Payment Assistance Bundle;
• Sign up for Budget Billing;
• Register for the Energy Discount Rate (for qualifying customers); and
• Schedule a home energy assessment and share information on other energy efficiency opportunities for homes or businesses.

The 33 events in March 2026 are free and are a core part of National Grid’s broader commitment to affordability and reliability. Customers can find information about upcoming sessions on our Customer Assistance webpage or learn more about managing winter energy bills at ngrid.com/hereforyou. They can also request assistance by calling 1-800-233-5325. 

March 2026 Customer Assistance Events

Additional Customer Assistance Information

Help with Managing Energy Bills:

National Grid is committed to delivering safe and reliable energy to the customers and communities we serve. We recognize that affordability is a significant concern, and National Grid offers various programs and services to help customers save energy, manage their bills, and access financial assistance. It is not too late to explore programs that help manage energy costs, including signing up for a Payment Assistance Bundle. The bundle combines three helpful solutions to make it easier for managing energy costs and paying down past due amounts over a 12-month period.

• Deferred Payment Agreement: Spread out past-due balance into future monthly payments.
• Automatic Monthly Payments: Automatically deduct payments from your bank account each month and avoid missing due dates.
• Budget Plan: Break down annual energy costs into balanced monthly payments, making it easier to budget and plan expenses.

Customers interested in enrolling in the Payment Assistance Bundle can do so online by visiting ngrid.com/hereforyou, at an in-person event, or by calling 1-800-233-5325.

• Budget Billing: Allows customers to spread their usual payment over twelve balanced monthly payments to help offset the traditionally high winter heating and summer air conditioning peak bills. Doing so makes it easier to anticipate monthly energy costs and plan household budgets. Additional information can be found here. 
• Discount Rates: Income-eligible customers may qualify for a discounted rate on energy service. To be eligible, applicants must be a National Grid customer and already enrolled in an eligible benefit program or the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Visit the Discount Rate application to determine eligibility and apply.
• Heat Pump Rate: National Grid introduced a new Residential Heat Pump Rate November 1st to help electric customers save during the winter heating season. Qualified customers who use heat pumps for home heating will receive a reduced delivery rate on electricity from November through April, lowering monthly costs. Customers who think they qualify but did not receive an enrollment confirmation should visit ngrid.com/heatpumprate to fill out the enrollment form to apply and ensure they receive the discount.