MG&E sends monthly bills to all gas and electric customers. Customers using both services receive a combined statement.

When paying your bill becomes difficult...

If you have trouble paying your bill due to financial difficulties, please tell us as soon as possible so that we can work with you to keep your account current. If you cannot pay your entire bill, we will work out a Deferred Payment Agreement which shall include full payment of the current month’s balance plus a portion of the past balance. Consideration will be given to special circumstances such as lack of employment, illness, or death in the immediate family. However, we do require verification of such circumstances.

Help is available in our community for low-income residents and for those in temporary financial difficulty:

• Federal Low-Income Heating Energy Assistance Program
  Funds are administered through the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development. You may qualify for this financial aid, also known as fuel assistance. Call our office for the location and contact information of the state office nearest you.
• The Salvation Army’s Good Neighbor Energy Fund is available to any Massachusetts resident who, because of temporary financial difficulty, cannot meet a month’s energy expense and is not eligible for state or federal energy assistance. If you need help, please contact the local Salvation Army for details. Each year, MG&E supports the Good Neighbor effort by including donation envelopes with all utility bills.
• The Middleborough Council on Aging, 555 Plymouth St., administers a fuel assistance program for local families and individuals of all ages. Appointments begin in November each year, and can be made by calling the Council at 508-946-2490. Interested applicants will be mailed complete instructions listing all the paperwork needed for the appointment. Those who are over 65 and homebound are eligible for a home visit.

If you do not pay your monthly bill, we will send a second notice 27 days after the first bill is received. If the bill is still unpaid 45 days later, we will send a shut-off notice. Shut-off notices provide at least 72 hours warning, to give customers a final opportunity to make payment arrangements.

Special circumstances when power must stay on

You will not be shut-off if you are experiencing financial hardship as defined by Massachusetts General Laws and at least one of the following situations applies to you:

• Someone living in your home has a serious, chronic illness
• You have a child under 12 months of age living in your home
• Everyone in your home is 65 years old or older
• Between November 15 and March 15, gas or electric service is necessary for space heating in your home

If you wish to apply for a financial hardship exemption from shut-off, please call our office for an application form. Proof of income, such as income tax forms or a statement of benefits from your funding agency, is required. MG&E staff can also tell you about other certification requirements.

Reconnection Fees

If gas or electric service is shut-off due to non-payment, the customer must contact MG&E to learn the specific requirements for reconnection. Reconnections can be scheduled Monday through Friday only, according to the following fee schedule:

Electric

Gas

No reconnections can take place after 9:30 p.m., or on Saturdays,
Sundays or holidays. 

Do you use electricity for life support?

If you use a life support system that requires electricity, please let us know so that we can note this on your account. To be place on our Life Support list, you must provide us with a signed letter from your current licensed physician describing the life-threatening situation that would exist without electricity. We also need information on any battery backup available and its expected endurance.

Because some power outages are unavoidable, you should always have a backup plan in case power is suddenly lost. This should include battery backup, along with a temporary shelter where your medical needs can be met until power is restored.