Contact: James McGrath, Parks and Open Space Manager, Community Development, 413.499.9344

PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Over a six-month period, the Pittsfield Community Choice Power Supply Program, the municipal aggregation program – and the largest in Berkshire County – has saved Pittsfield residents a total of $384,000 in electric utility costs.

Municipal aggregation leverages the power of group purchasing to negotiate lower prices on electricity bills for the members of the group. Approximately there are 16,000 participants, a mix of residents and business owners, in the city’s program.

Through this program, the city’s electricity supply is locked in at a fixed rate of .09976 cents/kWh now through December 2020.

Eversource’s Basic Service rates, recently approved by the Department of Public Utilities, for the period of July 1, 2018 to Dec. 31, 2018 is 10.003 cents/kWh for residential users; small commercial and industrial, 10.859 cents/kWh; and for medium and large commercial and industrial properties, 9.857 cents/kWh.

Mayor Linda Tyer said the city’s program is meeting expectations.

“Through the success of the municipal aggregation program, the City of Pittsfield has delivered savings to residents and small businesses, while decreasing the city’s carbon footprint,” said Mayor Tyer. “The city’s aggregation is taking an enormous step forward to help greenhouse gas emissions, as well as supporting the local economy by purchasing 25 percent more Solar Renewable Energy Certificates II’s than required by the Massachusetts Renewable Portfolio Standard. By supporting Massachusetts-based renewable energy producers, Pittsfielders help to build a cleaner, healthier environment for the generations to come.”

The City Council voted to approve the municipal aggregation program in April 2016. The city selected NextEra as the program’s primary energy supplier on the basis of lowest price margin.

In mid-June, NextEra will be mailing consumer notification letters to residents in Pittsfield who are currently on Basic Service, such as those who are new to the city and those who have ended third-party contracts and switched back to Basic Service.

Similar to an initial mailing, which went out in late 2017, the letter will inform residents about the program, highlight the savings, and allow for a 30-day opt-out period before automatic enrollment.

An opt-out option is available at any time with no penalty or fee. To opt-out, individuals can visit www.colonialpowergroup.com/Pittsfield, click the OPT-OUT button and follow the instructions specified or call Next Era at 885-639-8134.

Additional information is available on the program website at www.colonialpowergroup.com/Pittsfield. Questions or comments can be submitted directly to Pittsfield Community Electricity program consultants at 1-866-485-5858, Ext. 1.

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