Unitil cuts rates for large Mass. firms

Unitil Corporation announced yesterday that it has filed with the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy for rate decreases for large business customers in the Bay State.

The Hampton, N.H.-based utility holding company says rates are expected to drop by 5 to 7 percent.

Unitil said in a statement that the new prices are based on a recently completed competitive bidding process for wholesale electric energy supply and are expected to be in effect from September through November.

The Massachusetts price drop follows Unitil’s rate decrease of 0.6 percent announced in June for large New Hampshire business customers, which comprise about 60 percent of its large user market. Those rates are expected to take effect from August to October.

The rate decreases will not affect customers that purchase their electricity on the open market.

Basic service prices change every three months for large business customers through a competitive bidding process. Small and mid-size business customers’ prices as well as residential customer prices are bid every six months.

Unitil serves over 113,000 customers in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. — CINDY KIBBE