Natick Electricity Aggregation Program Lowers Prices

NATICK, MA — Starting with July 2019 electricity meter reads, the Natick Electricity Aggregation Program will lower program prices and offer an increased amount of renewable electricity. The changes are the result of a new 17-month contract with Direct Energy that will take effect as the 12-month electricity supply contract ends. Program participants will be automatically enrolled into the new contract with Direct Energy and don't need to worry about doing anything, just enjoy the savings.

Standard Green, the default program offering, will provide 10% additional renewable electricity, over the 14 percent minimum required by State law in 2019. That's a total of 24 percent renewable electricity. At the same time, the price for Standard Green will lower to 11.263 cents/kWh, which is 0.164 cents/kWh below the current price. Most people enrolled in the program are enrolled in Standard Green.

Natick Basic is another program option that is available on request. The price will lower to 11.026 cents/kWh, which is 0.273 cents/kWh below the current program price. Natick Basic does not include any additional renewable energy above the minimum amount required by State law and will continue meet only the minimum standard with the new contract.

A third new option will be available as well. The 100 percent Green option provides 100 percent renewable electricity. It also includes only renewable electricity generated by renewable energy projects in New England and will be available for 13.063 cents/kWh.

“This program is becoming an increasingly valuable tool for Natick’s efforts to fight climate change,” said Jillian Wilson Martin, the Town of Natick’s Sustainability Coordinator. “I’m proud that we are able to maintain Natick’s position as a sustainability leader in Massachusetts at the same time we can continue to provide Natick residents and businesses with competitive pricing, long-term price stability, and a trustworthy alternative to other electricity offers in the marketplace.”

Participants will first see the new prices and the name Direct Energy under the supply portion of their August 2019 Eversource bill, which covers electricity use in July. The prices are fixed until December 2020 meter reads. The new prices apply to all rate classes, including residential, small business, and large business accounts. Program prices only impact the supply portion of participants’ Eversource electricity bills.

While the new contract with Direct Energy provides lower prices compared with the previous contract, savings compared with Eversource’s Basic Service price cannot be guaranteed. Eversource’s Basic Service price changes every 6 months for residential and small business customers and every 3 months for large business customers, and future prices are not known.