Meeting About Community Electricity Aggregation Warrant Held

On March 12, Westwood Environmental Action Committee (WEAC)’s chair, Maria Constantini, and Green Energy Consumer’s Alliance’s Eugenia Gibbons spoke to a packed conference room at the Westwood Senior Center about Community Electricity Aggregation (CEA). Westwood’s participation in CEA is a warrant to be voted on at Town Meeting on May 6.

Gibbons spoke to the importance of a low-carbon future. She stated that municipal electrical aggregation has the possibility to stabilize energy prices, and provide renewable energy, cost stability, and savings. However, Green Energy Consumer’s Alliance (formerly Mass Energy) emphasizes that there is no guarantee of cost savings due to energy costs changing. The rate for residential electricity would change every six months. If a Westwood resident does not have Eversource but a Competitive Supplier Program, they will need to opt into CEA. A Westwood resident who has Eversource will be able to opt out before they are automatically enrolled in CEA.

Gibbons emphasized that one strength of CEA as opposed to green energy from a Competitive Supplier Program is that a CEA has green energy which comes from a local source, whereas the Competitive Supplier Program does not. Massachusetts’ Attorney General’s office released findings last year that Competitive Suppliers cost more than residential energy. The report also found that low-income consumers are disproportionately affected. Low-income consumers are more likely to sign-up for competitive supply and are more likely to be charged higher rates.

Should the Town Meeting vote to approve Community Electricity Aggregation, a broker will be chosen to organize the implementation. It is possible they will come from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

More information can be found on WEAC’s website about CEA, http://bit.ly/ceaww. Another informational session will be held on March 19.