The Press reported last week on the new two-year contract for electricity supply for homeowners and residents received a postcard from the town noting the new rates. We want to add several additional pieces of information:
- As noted, you need not take any action and the supply rate will change as of November billing to the new lower rate. It is 100% renewable sources. If you prefer to have the slightly lower supply rate ($0.00148 per kWh savings) it meets the Massachusetts renewable energy requirements of which 63.5% of the supply has to be from renewable sources.
- If you opted out of the town-negotiated supply contract and have a contract you sought directly with a supplier, you will not be affected. If you decide you would like to change to the town contract, be careful of the termination clauses in your direct contract. There can be some costs for terminating your direct contract early.
- You can reap additional savings of upward of 15% off your electricity bill by joining a Massachusetts solar farm. These projects generate and distribute renewable electricity for the grid and subscribers purchase a share of this energy—usually at a discount—to offset their electricity bill. This is in addition to the community choice power supply and any solar panels you may have on your home. For more info go to https://communitysolar.energysage.com/faq#about-community-solar.
Lastly, for those who own heat pumps, National Grid will be reducing your electricity costs by approximately 4 cents per kWh from Nov. 1 through April. If you used MassSave incentives when you installed your heat pump, you should be on National Grid’s list. If you installed your heat pump without MassSave or before 2019, you should call National Grid to learn how to report your heat pumps in order to get the rate reduction. For more information go to https://www.na tionalgridus.com/MA-Home/Rates/Heat-Pump-Rate.
We also recommend you join the Harvard Climate Initiative Newsletter to keep abreast of these changes and others that may be important to you. To sign up, visit the website at harvardmaclimateinitiative.org and click on “Connect with us.”
Brian Smith, chair, Harvard Energy Advisory Committee
Ellen Sachs Leicher, chair, Harvard Climate Initiative Committee
