Swampscott Community Power Users To See Prices Drop Again

SWAMPSCOTT, MA – The Town of Swampscott has secured a new supply agreement as part of its community electric aggregation program, and prices will be lowered for a second time in July.

"Swampscott is leading the way with Green Power and I am really excited to report that we have locked in a two-year price that will provide price stability and budget predictability for Swampscott Rate Payers," said Swampscott Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald in a statement. "By participating in this voluntary program, Swampscott residents will help ensure that program participants can avoid costly increases in electricity costs until 2019."

The agreement continues the town’s green electricity program while also providing price stability and long-term favorable rates to residents and business in the community. Beginning with July electricity meter reads, participants in the Swampscott Community Power program will see their rates lower for a second time in 2017.

The Standard Offering, which provides 100 percent green energy, will lower to 10.000 cents/kWh. The Greener Option, which provides 100 percent green energy and includes an extra 20 percent from renewable energy projects in New England, will lower to 10.10 cents/kWh. The Basic option, which does not integrate any additional renewable energy, will lower to 9.95 cents/kWh.

The program’s current 6-month contract with Constellation NewEnergy will expire in July. These new prices are the result of a 24-month contract for electricity supply between Swampscott and Agera Energy. The new prices apply to all rate classes, including residential, commercial, and industrial accounts. Prices will impact the Supplier Services portion of participants’ National Grid bills.

The new prices will take effect for program participants with their first meter read after July 1, 2017. Participants will see their new price on their National Grid bill beginning in August 2017. Customers in the Swampscott Community Power program do not have to take any action as part of the rate change.

"I also want to recognize the great work of Pete Kane, Swampscott’s Community Development Director," said Fitzgerald. "Pete has been working with Town boards and committees who are helping to maintain Swampscott’s unique and extraordinary commitment to sustainability leadership in Massachusetts. We were, and we remain, one of the first communities in Massachusetts to provide 100 percent green electricity to program participants."

Based on a combination of actual and estimated electricity use, Swampscott is on track to have reduced its carbon footprint by more than 32,000 tons since its January 2016 program launch, which is the equivalent of taking more than 3,000 passenger vehicles off the road for one year. "This is something every citizen in Swampscott and Massachusetts can be proud about," Fitzgerald said.

Swampscott Community Power is a municipal energy aggregation. By bulk purchasing electricity for the entire community through this program, Swampscott is working to make electricity costs more predictable and more stable, to bring 100 percent green energy to the town, and to give participants more control over the price and environmental characteristics of the electricity they use.

The program offers three alternatives to National Grid Basic Service:

· The Standard Offering is 100% green and is the default offering. New National Grid Basic Service customers in Swampscott are automatically enrolled in the Standard Offering, unless they choose to opt out or select a different option.

· The Greener Option is an option that allows participants to integrate 100% green energy into their electricity supply, with a focus on locally-produced renewable energy. The Greener Option includes an extra 20% from renewable energy projects in New England, in addition to the minimum required by the state. Participants may choose the Greener Option for a small premium.

· The Basic Option is the least expensive option within the program. The Basic Option meets minimum state renewable energy requirements, but it does not include any additional renewable energy.

The new prices will be in effect from July 2017 meter reads until July 2019 meter reads. During that time, National Grid Basic Service prices will fluctuate and may at times be lower than the program price. However, program participants have the right to leave, or opt out, of the program at any time with no penalty.

In compliance with state regulations for municipal energy aggregations, new National Grid Basic Service customers in Swampscott are automatically enrolled in the program unless they choose to opt out. Additional details, including information on how to switch from one option to another or opt out of the program, are available at www.masspowerchoice.com/swampscott. Customer support is available from the Town’s consultants by email at swampscott@masspowerchoice.com or by phone at 1-844-483-5004.

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