by Madison Schofield
LEYDEN — The Selectboard has voted unanimously to contract with Colonial Power Group for the town’s energy aggregation plan.
The town will still need to select an energy supplier and finalize prices, said Town Coordinator Michele Giarusso. With Colonial Power Group acting as the town’s agent, they hope to finalize rates and select a supplier so the program can begin by March 2026.
At the 2024 Annual Town Meeting, voters unanimously approved pursuing energy aggregation, where the town negotiates with energy suppliers and purchases electricity on behalf of its residents to pass along savings. In late August, the state Department of Public Utilities approved the town’s energy aggregation plan, allowing the Selectboard to move forward and contract with Colonial Power Group.
“The purpose of the aggregation plan is to represent consumer interests in competitive markets for electricity,” a post on the Leyden town website previously explained. “It brings together the buying power of more than 700 consumers.”
2025-8-21 DPU 25-65 DRAFT Leyden Municipal Aggregation Order
Selectboard member Jeffrey Baker called energy aggregation a “win-win” on Monday, while the board discussed supplier options. Board member Katherine DiMatteo said the suppliers the town has been considering provided initial quotes of $0.11 per kilowatt-hour, which is three cents cheaper than the current Eversource rate of $ 0.14 per kilowatt-hour.
DiMatteo said the town will offer a few energy options relying on different levels of renewable energy. Residents would be able to opt out and stick with their current provider if they want a plan that uses more renewable energy than the town plans offer, or if they are happy with their current provider.
“If the choices from the town don’t satisfy their need for 100%, they can go to a third party. I think there’s always options for folks who want to really invest in renewable energy,” Selectboard Chair Erica Jensen.
“You get a choice. If you don’t like the aggregation rate, you can drop out,” DiMatteo added. “It’s not an obligation, it’s an offer.”
In the coming months, the board will work with Colonial Power Group to finalize an energy supplier and rates, and conduct public outreach to let residents know what to expect.
“There’s a lot of things that are upcoming from the aggregator. There’ll be mailings, there’ll be public forums,” Jensen said. “There’s a lot to happen before; this is just the first step.”
More information about Leyden’s rates, once they are set, and how to opt out of the program, will be available at colonialpowergroup.com/leyden.