Massachusetts residents have some of the highest home electric bills in the country, per a new Axios analysis of data collected and shared by climate newsroom Heatmap News.

Why it matters: Tensions over rising energy bills and power-hungry AI data centers are emerging as a key political issue, and should be a potent force in this year's midterms.

• Americans are also paying more for other forms of energy, like auto gas, amid the Iran war — though the ceasefire deal could lead to some relief, if it holds.

Flashback: The Department of Public Utilities opened an investigation into the rise in delivery charges on electric and gas bills in December after several bill increases.

Zoom in: Nantucket had the highest estimated average monthly electric bills in the continental U.S. in 2025, followed by San Francisco County, California ($282) and Nobles County, Minnesota ($273).

• While the rest of Massachusetts' electric monthly bills weren't as high, they still exceeded the U.S. average of $158 a month.
• Suffolk County residents paid on average $167 a month.
• Norfolk County residents paid on average $175 a month, and Middlesex County residents paid on average $180 a month.

Between the lines: Costs are also higher than average in many parts of Alaska, whose isolation and geography often drive up prices across the board relative to the Lower 48.

What we're watching: The DPU continues its probe into utility bill volatility and delivery charges, and it's taking public comment on the matter until Thursday.

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📉 Commercial real estate vacancies continued to fall below 24% into the first quarter of 2026, per a recent report from Colliers.

• That's partly due to the rise of redevelopment projects and office-to-residential building conversions in Boston.

It also helped that companies likely to shrink their footprints had already done so shortly after the pandemic.

Yes, but: While this could continue throughout 2026, Boston's slow growth of white-collar jobs compared to other cities could hurt these prospects, says Jeff Myers, research director at the Colliers Boston office.

• "Should the economy slow further and lead to widespread layoffs, it would likely weigh on the prospects of a near-term recovery," he tells Axios.

🏗️ The law firm McCarter & English signed an 11-year lease for 47,000 square feet of office space in International Place downtown, CityBiz reported.

• The firm plans to move in May 2027.

💰 New York-based Acadia Realty bought two Newbury Street buildings that host Chanel and Cartier stores earlier this month for a combined $113.5 million, per the Boston Globe.

🏙️ Meanwhile, local construction firms — including Suffolk Construction and Newton-based Commodore Builders — are pursuing major projects outside of New England, the Boston Business Journal reported.

• That includes Suffolk's Manhattan skyscraper project, known as The Torch, and a joint venture to build a $10 billion project in Beverly Hills.

🏀 The Celtics have taken a 3-1 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers, after winning Game 4 128-96. (ESPN)

• The 76ers are on the brink of elimination.

🏒 Meanwhile, the Bruins could get eliminated from the playoffs after losing three out of four games against the Buffalo Sabres, including a brutal 6-1 defeat yesterday. (Herald)

⚾️ The Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora and five other staffers. (NBC Boston)

• The organization reassigned game-planning manager Jason Varitek.
• Infielder Trevor Story said the Sox's future seems "up in the air."

🏈 The Patriots drafted nine players this weekend, including offensive tackle Caleb Lomu. (MassLive)

• "It was business as usual" on Day 3, said Eliot Wolf, Patriots executive vice president of player personnel, of coach Mike Vrabel's absence for counseling.

Rescue crews spent yesterday searching for a crew member who fell off a cruise ship off the coast of Wellfleet Saturday night. (WCVB)

Authorities charged Janette MacAusland with the murder of her two children, who were found dead inside a Wellesley house Friday night. (CBS Boston)

Monday, 4/27

🎤 Dave Omoregie, the British rapper also known as Satan Dave, performs at MGM Fenway, 8pm.

Tuesday, 4/28

👖 Bow Market in Somerville hosts an Earth Day clothing swap, 4:30-7pm.

• Tickets: $40; includes swap of up to five items and donation to the nonprofit Second Chances.

Wednesday, 4/29

📖 Evan Wang, the 9th National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States, discusses his new poetry collection, "Slow Burn," at the Harvard Book Store, 7pm.

🌳 Wawa Gatheru, founder of Black Girl Environmentalist, discusses climate activism at the New England Aquarium, 6:30-7:30pm.

• Free, but advance registration required for in-person and virtual tickets.

Thursday, 4/30

🎷 Saxophone players Godwin Louis and Jonathan Suazo perform at Union Church for International Jazz Day, 6:30-9pm.

🎸 Brooklyn rock band The Hold Steady kick off their two-night stop at the Sinclair, 8pm.

Friday, 5/1

🎤 Maya Hawke, the "Stranger Things" actor and singer-songwriter, plays the Crystal Ballroom in Somerville, 8pm.

Saturday, 5/2

🛍️ Gibson Point in Revere hosts a spring market with jewelry, ceramics, dog treats and other locally-made products, 11am-4pm.

🛍️ The Seaport Summer Market kicks off its 2026 season, 11am-6pm.

Sunday, 5/3

🖼️ The New Art Center in Newton holds its New Yart Sale, a community art sale and open house, 10am-1pm.

Townie took a stroll through a Boston neighborhood recently. Where do you think she went?

• Hint: If the clock isn't enough of a giveaway, just know this is in an actual Boston neighborhood, not Chelsea or the 'burbs.

Reply to this email with the answer, and you'll get a shoutout.