• By Lisa Rinaldi / Correspondent
WEST NEWBURY — Local officials recently announced that the town’s new municipal energy aggregation program will begin in April. The town adopted the community choice power supply program (CCPSP) in an effort to provide residents with stable, affordable electricity that incorporates additional options for renewable energy, according to officials.
“We are excited to implement this program for the benefit of West Newbury’s utility ratepayers,” Town Manager Angus Jennings said, in a statement.
The new program will operate on an opt-out basis; all West Newbury residential and business customers currently on National Grid’s basic service will be automatically enrolled in the new program unless they opt out. No enrollment, early termination, or cancellation fees are attached to the program.
The town has mailed enrollment and opt-out information to ratepayers, and has scheduled two public information sessions in March to answer questions about the newly adopted CCPSP.
The energy initiative, championed by the Energy and Sustainability Committee, has been in the works since late 2022.
Jennings recently signed a 30-month contract with Dynegy Energy Services of Dallas, the electricity supplier selected as the provider for West Newbury’s program. The town signed a consultancy agreement with Colonial Power Group in June 2023. Colonial, based in Marlborough, is one of the state’s leading aggregation consulting firms. The town’s proposed aggregation plan was approved by the Select Board in August 2023.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities subsequently approved the plan in November 2024, enabling the town to go into the competitive marketplace and solicit pricing for its ratepayers. Once the program is up and running, Colonial Power Group will continue to monitor the program and power acquisitions.
West Newbury’s CCPSP is a municipal aggregation program which, as authorized by Massachusetts General Law, enables local governments to combine the purchasing power of its residents and businesses so that it can provide customers with an alternative electricity supply.
To date, approximately 190 Massachusetts communities have chosen to develop community choice electricity programs to benefit their residences, businesses, and municipal budgets. Last week, Newbury town officials announced the community had launched its own community choice power supply program, also starting in April.
West Newbury’s program will offer local ratepayers three products with varying amounts of renewable energy content. The standard (default) plan offers 100% renewable energy content, and represents a savings of approximately 10% or $9 per month. The optional basic plan meets state renewable energy requirements and represents an 11% savings or approximately $10 per month. The optional green 100 plan meets 100% of Massachusetts Class 1 renewable energy certificates, with no anticipated monthly savings.
Typically, basic service rates change every six months or more, depending on rate class. The aggregation rate, therefore, may not always be lower than the basic service rate.
The goal of the aggregation is to deliver savings over the life of the program, but future savings cannot be guaranteed, according to local officials.
“By aggregating,” said Jennings, “we are able to offer an energy program with lower rates as well as alternatives for customers who prefer to use renewable energy…..Ultimately, this program will help save residents and businesses money on their electricity bills, and save the town money in its electricity purchasing for public facilities, all while helping the environment.”
Ratepayers will not experience any substantive change in electricity service. Dynegy will now be listed under “supply services” on National Grid’s monthly bills, but payments will continue to be sent to National Grid for processing.
Information sessions will be held in March by the town and representatives of Colonial Power Group.
On Thursday, March 6, the session will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the town office building, 381 Main St., West Newbury.
On Thursday, March 13, at noon, representatives and residents will meet at the SAGE Center Lunch and Learn, 381 Main St., West Newbury. To RSVP for the March 13 session and for lunch, contact COA Director Christine Marshall at: coa@wnewbury.org or: 978-363-1104.
Additional information about the community choice power supply program is available here: www.wnewbury.org.