Melrose Says Community Electricity Customers Will Save On Electric Bills

The town says its program will offer lower rates than the leading option through the winter.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Aug 5, 2026 11:41 AM EDT

New National Grid electricity customers in Melrose are eligible for automatic enrollment in Melrose's program. (Dakota Antelman/Patch)

MELROSE, MA — The city's community electricity program will continue offering electricity supply rates below National Grid's Residential Basic Service price through the winter as the current utility supply rates take effect.

City officials announced that Melrose Community Power participants will pay between 14.310 and 15.599 cents per kilowatt-hour from Aug. 1, 2026, through Jan. 31, 2027, while National Grid's Residential Basic Service supply price is 17.185 cents per kilowatt-hour during the same period. The program offers three electricity supply options, including the default Melrose Local Green product, which contains an additional 10 percent renewable energy beyond the state's minimum renewable energy requirements. According to the city, all three program options remain below National Grid's current Basic Service supply price while providing customers with stable electricity supply rates.

Under the current pricing, customers enrolled in the Melrose Basic option will pay 14.310 cents per kilowatt-hour, while participants enrolled in the default Melrose Local Green option will pay 14.723 cents per kilowatt-hour. Customers who choose Melrose Local Green 100 percent will pay 15.599 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity supplied from 100 percent renewable energy sources. The city noted that customers already enrolled in Melrose Community Power do not need to take any action to continue receiving their selected electricity supply option.

Residents and businesses who are not currently enrolled in Melrose Community Power may join the program at any time or switch between the available electricity supply options without penalty. New National Grid electricity customers in Melrose are eligible for automatic enrollment in the program unless they choose to opt out.

Melrose Community Power is the city's official municipal electricity aggregation program, which purchases electricity supply on behalf of participating residents and businesses while National Grid continues to deliver electricity, maintain the distribution system, and respond to power outages. The program offers multiple electricity supply options that allow customers to select different levels of renewable energy while maintaining competitive electricity supply rates.

Melrose Community Power is the city's only municipal electricity aggregation program. More information about Melrose Community Power, including enrollment and available electricity supply options, is available online.