ConnectedSolutions Incentives Help Customers Earn Rewards While Supporting a Reliable Electrical Grid

WALTHAM, MA – National Grid is helping customers earn rewards for conserving energy during the dog days of summer through the ConnectedSolutions program, an award-winning program that offers incentives for smart thermostats and battery storage systems. In addition to helping manage energy costs, the program helps reduce electricity use during periods of high demand and supports reliable electric service across Massachusetts.  Enrolling in ConnectedSolutions is a critical way that residential and commercial customers can help ensure a safe, reliable supply of electricity to Massachusetts communities during the hottest of summer days when electricity use is at its highest in New England.

“ConnectedSolutions gives customers practical tools to earn rewards while helping reduce strain on the electric grid during periods of high demand,” said Andrew Schneller, Vice President of Engineering & Network Strategy. “This is an area where customer participation can have a major impact, helping us to manage demand, improve reliability, and defer or avoid additional energy generation, while also advancing sustainability across Massachusetts.”

Below are several ways to participate in ConnectedSolutions, each offering financial incentives to both residential and commercial customers in Massachusetts each summer. In addition to helping address overall demand, these tools can also help customers manage costs and support a reliable, cleaner grid: 

Residential and Small Business Solutions 

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• Thermostat Program: By enrolling an eligible smart thermostat in ConnectedSolutions, customers can earn incentives for reducing energy use at peak times, including up to $100 at enrollment and annual rewards for being enrolled during the key season (June 1 to September 30).  During the hottest summer days, the enrolled thermostat will automatically precool your space to prepare it for a peak demand event. Then it will slightly readjust the temperature to reduce electric use for the duration of the event, while also ensuring customer comfort and safety, and then revert to preferred settings at the end of the event.

   

• Battery Program: Residential customers with existing battery systems can enroll in ConnectedSolutions and earn an average of $1,200 each year by allowing the discharge of the battery during periods of peak demand. Customers can apply for a 0% interest Heat Loan for the cost of their battery storage systems. 

   

Commercial Solutions

Commercial and industrial customers can also take advantage of the ConnectedSolutions program, allowing them to earn financial incentives by limiting their facility’s energy use or discharging batteries during periods of high energy demand. Commercial customers have a variety of programs to choose from, as shown in the table. 

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Supporting Grid Efficiency Through Demand Response, Increased Localized Incentives

Residential and commercial customers enrolled in ConnectedSolutions play an important role in the electric grid, providing National Grid with a coordinated, flexible system that can respond to changing grid conditions. Together, these resources help reduce peak demand, enhance reliability, and maintain service quality for customers, while also helping defer or avoid certain energy system upgrades.  

In 2025, National Grid residential and commercial customers provided close to 83 MW of flexible capacity in Massachusetts through the ConnectedSolutions program. National Grid’s portfolio contributes significantly to the broader ConnectedSolutions portfolio across five Northeast utilities.

National Grid has expanded this effort through the ConnectedSolutions+ program, which provides expanded incentives to customers in select regions across Massachusetts, helping utilize energy flexibility and reducing the impact on the grid in these key locations. After a successful first season in 2025, the ConnectedSolutions+ program has been expanded to a total of 15 locations across Massachusetts. 

The company is also investing in grid reliability across the region through the $470 million upgrade of the oldest transmission line in New England and the addition of new technologies that can remotely restore power to customers during storms and other outages.