Axios Boston

April 27, 2026
Hello, Monday.
- Massachusetts has some of the highest electric bills in the country, while commercial real estate vacancies are slowly declining.
βοΈ Today's weather: Sunny, with a high of 59 and a low of 41.
π Happy birthday to Axios Boston members Connor McLaughlin and Mary Courtney O'Sullivan!
π Congrats to Susan G., Deborah P., Kellee P., Martha D., Ken S. and everyone else who got 5/5 on last week's news quiz.
Today's newsletter is 744 words β a 3-minute read.
1 big thing: America's highest electric bills

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 β 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.
2. ποΈ Going up: A slow decline in vacancies
π 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.
ποΈ 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.
π° 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.
ποΈ Meanwhile, local construction firms β including Suffolk Construction and Newton-based Commodore Builders β 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.
3. π BTMU: 2 very different playoffs prospects
π 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.
π 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)
βΎοΈ 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."
π 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)
4. ποΈ Social calendar
Monday, 4/27
π€ Dave Omoregie, the British rapper also known as Satan Dave, performs at MGM Fenway, 8pm.
Tuesday, 4/28
π 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
π 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.
π³ 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
π· Saxophone players Godwin Louis and Jonathan Suazo perform at Union Church for International Jazz Day, 6:30-9pm.
πΈ Brooklyn rock band The Hold Steady kick off their two-night stop at the Sinclair, 8pm.
Friday, 5/1
π€ Maya Hawke, the "Stranger Things" actor and singer-songwriter, plays the Crystal Ballroom in Somerville, 8pm.
Saturday, 5/2
ποΈ Gibson Point in Revere hosts a spring market with jewelry, ceramics, dog treats and other locally-made products, 11am-4pm.
ποΈ The Seaport Summer Market kicks off its 2026 season, 11am-6pm.
Sunday, 5/3
πΌοΈ The New Art Center in Newton holds its New Yart Sale, a community art sale and open house, 10am-1pm.
5. π Where's Townie?
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.
Deehan is out.
Steph appreciates all the advice on surviving allergy season.
This newsletter was edited by Mike Szvetitz.
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