RMLD monthly bills forecasted an average 6.6% higher than 2024 and remain significantly lower than investor-owned utilities
READING, MA – The Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) Citizens’ Advisory Board and Board of Commissioners approved an average rate increase of 6.6% effective April 1, 2025. RMLD continues to prioritize reliable and low-cost energy amid increasing costs in a dynamic energy market. This rate adjustment supports major capital investments and addresses rising regional transmission costs.
RMLD customer bills are 50-60% lower than those of Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs) in Massachusetts. A typical RMLD monthly bill is forecasted to be approximately $161 in 2025. Comparable IOU bills were typically $262 at Eversource, $266 at National Grid and $355 at Unitil in 2024. (Source: MMWEC 2024 Rate Comparisons)
An average RMLD residential customer using approximately 800 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month can expect their monthly bill to increase by approximately $9.50. Approximately $5 (half) of the increase can be attributed to increasing power supply costs which are directly passed on to customers with no additional fee. Public power remains the most reliable and cost-effective energy supply and is better for electricity customers.
Beginning in April 2025, customer bills are expected to increase by the following percentages for each rate class: 6.3% for residential customers, 6.2% for residential time-of-use customers, 7.0% for commercial customers, 7.9% for industrial time-of-use customers, 6.9% for municipal customers, and 5.9% for schools.
“RMLD recognizes that any price increase may pose a challenge for our customers, and we continue to proactively manage operating costs and our power supply cost to minimize these changes and keep bills low,” said Gregory Phipps, general manager of RMLD. “This investment will allow RMLD to pursue needed capital improvements and address continually rising regional transmission costs as we work to provide reliable and excellent service to customers.”
Customers will see the 2025 billing adjustment reflected in the customer charge, demand charge, and the distribution energy charge. A full breakdown of RMLD residential bill charges can be found at rmld.com/understandingmybill.
RMLD power sources are currently at 55% non-carbon, well ahead of the Commonwealth’s 2030 mandate that the power sold by MLPs be sourced from resources that are 50% non-carbon by 2030, 75% non-carbon by 2040, and net-zero carbon by 2050.
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About Reading Municipal Light Department
Established in 1894, Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) is a municipal electric utility serving over 70,000 residents in Reading, North Reading, Wilmington, and Lynnfield Center, Massachusetts. RMLD is the largest of the 41 municipal light departments in Massachusetts based on electricity load, is not-for-profit and is locally owned and controlled. The RMLD is committed to serving our customers with reliable, low-cost, and increasingly non-carbon energy. For more information visit: rmld.com
