PRESS RELEASE
OCTOBER 26, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: S. PETER KANE, TOWN PLANNER, 781.596.8829
SWAMPSCOTT SELECTS CONEDISON SOLUTIONS TO SUPPLY ELECTRICITY FOR SWAMPSCOTT COMMUNITY POWER PROGRAM
Program will deliver 100% green energy to all Swampscott residents and businesses
The Town of Swampscott has selected ConEdison Solutions as the electricity supplier for the Swampscott Community Power program. A municipal electricity aggregation program, Swampscott Community Power will provide Swampscott residents and businesses with a cost-effective, transparent electricity supply alternative to National Grid. By bulk purchasing electricity for the entire community, Swampscott Community Power will bring 100% green energy to residents and businesses at a price significantly below the recently announced National Grid Basic Service winter rates.
Swampscott Community Power will begin in January 2016 with an initial 12-month electricity supply contract. The program will offer a fixed, stable price of 10.465 cents/kWh for all rate classes, including residential, commercial, and industrial. This rate will offer the average household savings of $18.01/month over National Grid’s winter Basic Service rates at program launch, and it will offer protection from the significant winter and summer fluctuations in the National Grid prices for the duration of the contract.
Through Swampscott Community Power, the Town will set a new environmental standard for municipal aggregation in Massachusetts. The program will deliver 100% green energy to all electric customers in Swampscott and will include an additional 5% new wind energy over and above the state requirements for new energy. The inclusion of such a high percentage of energy from new wind projects positions Swampscott five years ahead of the state and makes Swampscott one of the first two energy aggregations to achieve this important environmental milestone out of the nearly fifty active aggregations across Massachusetts. As a result of implementing the aggregation, the Town anticipates reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 45,000 tons of CO2.
Those customers who wish to make an even greater commitment to renewable energy will be able to choose the greener option for a small premium, which will integrate 20% new wind energy over and above state requirements.
“Swampscott Community Power will offer residents and businesses an alternative to National Grid’s electricity supply that they know they can trust,” said Town Administrator Thomas Younger. “And it will unite Swampscott’s residents and businesses in a truly meaningful, joint effort to address climate change. I am so pleased to be a part of offering the community this choice.”
Swampscott residents and businesses that currently receive National Grid Basic Service need to do nothing to participate. They will be automatically enrolled in Swampscott Community Power on their first meter read date after January 1. Eligible residents and businesses will receive information about the program during December in the mail and through community events. They can choose to opt out of the program before launch or at any time after launch with no penalty.
Swampscott has developed its aggregation plan and is implementing its aggregation program with assistance from Peregrine Energy Group of Boston and Bay State Consultants of Newburyport.
While Swampscott Community Power will offer savings at launch, it will offer a fixed 12-month price. National Grid residential and commercial prices change every six months, and industrial prices change every three months. As a result of these market fluctuations, Swampscott consumers experience tremendous volatility. The recently announced winter National Grid residential rates of 13.038 cents per kWh represents a 30% increase above the summer of 2015 rates. Swampscott Community Power will eliminate that seasonal volatility with a fixed program price, though that price may not always be below the National Grid Basic Service price. The program goal is to deliver savings as compared to Basic Service when costs are averaged across all twelve months.
Swampscott Community Power will only impact electricity supply rates. National Grid will continue to deliver the electricity and maintain and repair power lines. Customers will continue to receive one bill from National Grid, and they will continue to contact National Grid when their power goes out. For more information about the program, visit http://bit.ly/swampscottcommunitypower.
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