PRESS RELEASE
NOVEMBER 30, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: S. PETER KANE, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, 781.596.8829
SWAMPSCOTT COMMUNITY POWER PROGRAM TO OFFER LOWER PRICES IN JANUARY 2017
New electricity supply contract continues town’s commitment to 100% green energy
The Town of Swampscott is happy to provide an update regarding our community electric aggregation program, Swampscott Community Power. This program was put into effect at the end of 2015 and has been successful in providing residents and businesses in town with a green and predictable electric supply rate.
Thanks to our new contract, the Swampscott Community Power program prices will be lower for all three program options beginning in January 2017. The new program prices will be as follows: The Standard Offering will be 10.343 ¢/kWh; the Greener Option will be 11.009 ¢/kWh; and the Basic Option will be 10.285 ¢/kWh. At the same time, the program will continue to deliver 100% green energy. These rates are the result of a new 6-month contract for electricity supply between Swampscott and Constellation NewEnergy, Inc., formerly ConEdison Solutions.
For program participants, these prices will impact the Supplier Services portion of their National Grid electric bill. The lower prices will take effect for program participants with their first meter read after January 1, 2017. Participants will see their new price on their National Grid bill beginning in February 2017. These new prices apply to all rate classes, including residential, small business, and medium and large business accounts.
“This program is having a measurable and significant impact on Swampscott’s carbon footprint,” said Swampscott Director of Community Development, Pete Kane. “Based on actual program electricity use through September and estimated use for October through December, Swampscott is on track to reduce its carbon footprint by more than 9,700 tons of carbon dioxide in the program’s first year. This is the equivalent of removing more than 2,000 passenger vehicles from the road for one year.”
The Swampscott Community Power program 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, bringing 100% green energy to the town and giving 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.
- The Greener Option is an option that allows participants to make their electricity supply 100% green with a focus on locally-produced renewable energy. The Greener Option exceeds state requirements for integrating renewable energy from new renewable energy projects in New England by more than 40%.
- The Basic Option is the least expensive option within the program. The Basic Option is not 100% green. It meets minimum state renewable energy requirements.
The new prices will be in effect for January through June 2017 meter reads. During that time, National Grid Basic Service may offer the least expensive option overall. However, program participants have the right to opt out at any time with no penalty. When the current electricity supply contract ends in June, Swampscott will have the choice to either negotiate a new electricity supply contract or return all program participants to National Grid Basic Service.
In compliance with state regulations for municipal energy aggregations, new National Grid Basic Service customers in Swampscott are automatically enrolled in the program. Additional details, including information on how to switch from one option to another or opt out of the program, are available at http://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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