Pepperell Community Electricity

Summary: Pepperell Community Electricity

Description

The Town of Pepperell has launched Pepperell Community Electricity, a group electricity buying program. Developed with the goals of providing choices, stable prices, and consumer protections, Pepperell Community Electricity launched in October 2024 with three options and prices that are fixed for 25 months. The program will also offer savings compared with National Grid’s electricity supply price.

In launching Pepperell Community Electricity, Pepperell will join more than 150 other cities and towns in Massachusetts with similar programs. 

Deep Dive

What is Municipal Energy Aggregation?

1. Municipal Aggregation is a state-regulated program authorizing a municipality to purchase electricity in bulk on behalf of the community.
2. The town contracts energy supply for basic rate customers of National Grid.
3. National Grid delivers the electricity to you, just as it does now.
4. You receive the same services and billing from National Grid as you do today.

What's in it for me?

1. Price certainty and stability.
2. Potential cost savings. Though Pepperell Community Electricity will not be able to guarantee savings, the Town is committed to working toward competitive and stable prices.
3. The opportunity to increase your use of renewable energy and reduce Pepperell's carbon footprint.

Important Points

• All basic rate customers are automatically enrolled.
• Participation is voluntary - you can leave or join at any time.
• Households with "competitive supplier" energy contracts are eligible to join, but should review the terms of their contract.
• Nothing changes with electricity transmission, metering, services, power restoration or billing.

Benefits – Price certainty, stability, and potential savings

Municipal Aggregation

Because aggregation programs have flexibility regarding when to lock in prices and for how long, they can provide more price stability as well as potential savings when compared to National Grid basic service.*

*Because National Grid basic service prices change every six months and future prices are unknown, future savings cannot be guaranteed.

Benefits: Customized renewable energy mix, helps create jobs in New England

The Town can offer a mix of energy options customized to meet Pepperell’s interests.

We have the option to purchase our renewable energy exclusive from New England power sources.

An example of energy mix options

Following are some of the energy mix options offered in other municipal aggregation communities

20% Renewable – State minimum renewable requirement

27% Renewable – 5% more renewable than state minimum, as of 2022. (Minimum renewable portfolio increases every year.)

100% Renewable

Benefits – Lower our carbon footprint

Increasing our renewable energy rate would lower Pepperell’s carbon footprint and help reduce the impacts of climate change to our health, to our farms, and to our natural resources.

Increasing our renewable energy rate by just 5% over the state minimum would be like taking 122 passenger vehicles off the road each year.

Steps to Take

What Can I Do?

• Choose Pepperell Community Electricity 
• Choose the 100% Renewable Energy Option or the option that Exceeds the State Mandate for Renewable options