Weymouth Launches Community Electricity Aggregation Program
Projected Annual Savings of Over $1 Million
WEYMOUTH - August 26 - Weymouth officials unveiled details of the town's new community electricity aggregation program during a packed public meeting on a Tuesday night, with residents set to be automatically enrolled in October unless they opt out by September 10th. The program, six years in development, promises to deliver competitive rates and long-term price stability through supplier Dynegy, with projected collective savings exceeding $1 million annually if most residents participate.
The Full Story
The Weymouth Community Electricity Program represents the culmination of extensive municipal efforts dating back to 2018, when the Metropolitan Area Planning Council first approached the town about participating in state-sponsored community aggregation initiatives. John MacLeod, the town's Director of Asset Management and Chief Procurement Officer, explained that the project was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic but gained momentum after the town successfully aggregated electricity for municipal buildings in 2017, achieving significant cost savings.
Under the program, eligible residents currently served by National Grid's basic service will be automatically enrolled in the "Weymouth Standard" plan starting with October meter reads. The standard plan is priced at 14.249 cents per kilowatt hour, compared to National Grid's current basic service rate of 15.484 cents per kilowatt hour. For an average residential customer using 500 kilowatt hours monthly, this translates to approximately $74 in annual savings.
The town also offers a premium "Weymouth Plus" option at 15.409 cents per kilowatt hour, which provides 100% renewable energy compared to the standard plan's state-mandated minimum of 63% renewable content. Both plans are locked in for 50 months, providing rate stability through December 2029.
Rafida Rahman, Sustainability and Engagement Specialist with consultant Good Energy, emphasized the program's voluntary nature: "There's never any penalty or fee to opt out of the program. Anyone can opt out at any time and will be returned to National Grid basic service on their next meter read."
The competitive bidding process attracted three suppliers, with Dynegy selected based on offering the lowest rates and longest price stability period. Dynegy currently serves 53 communities in Massachusetts and approximately 1.5 million aggregation customers nationally. The town's procurement process was managed through Good Energy, which serves over 60 Massachusetts communities and is compensated through fees incorporated into the supplier rates rather than direct payments from the town.
Several residents raised concerns about Dynegy's customer service record, citing negative reviews from the Better Business Bureau. Rahman acknowledged these concerns but distinguished between Dynegy's municipal aggregation customers and their other service offerings, noting that Good Energy maintains its own customer service line at 781-222-0389 to address issues and work directly with suppliers when problems arise.
National Grid will continue to handle all delivery services, including maintaining power lines, responding to outages, and billing. Residents will receive a single bill from National Grid, with only the supply portion changing to reflect the new program rates. All existing benefits, including low-income discounts, budget billing, and net metering for solar customers, remain unaffected.
Mayor Mike Molisse stressed that the program costs the town nothing and generates no revenue for municipal government. "It's purely for a community benefit to save the taxpayer money and stabilize the costs," he stated. The mayor noted that if most eligible residents participate and save approximately $5 monthly, the collective townwide savings would exceed $1 million annually.
The town conducted the required public notification process, mailing postcards to all eligible customers in August. Customers with third-party electricity suppliers will not be automatically enrolled and must check with their current providers about potential termination fees before joining the program voluntarily.
Several residents questioned what happens after the 50-month contract period. MacLeod explained that the town would conduct another competitive bidding process to ensure continued competitive rates, potentially selecting a different supplier. The program operates under state law and Department of Public Utilities oversight, with annual reporting requirements.
The meeting drew particular interest from residents frustrated with rising electricity costs, especially delivery charges that have more than doubled for some customers in recent months. While the aggregation program only addresses supply costs, officials noted that the rate stability feature helps with budgeting and long-term planning.
Why It Matters
The community electricity aggregation program offers Weymouth residents their first opportunity to achieve collective bargaining power in the electricity market while maintaining the reliability and service quality of National Grid's delivery system. With electricity costs continuing to rise and National Grid's basic service rates changing every six months, the program's 50-month rate lock provides unprecedented price stability for household budgeting. The projected $1 million in collective annual savings represents meaningful financial relief for a community of 60,000 residents facing increasing utility costs.
Meeting Minutes
Public Comment
Over 20 residents participated in an extensive question-and-answer session covering topics ranging from opt-out procedures and customer service concerns to renewable energy content and compatibility with existing solar installations. Key concerns included Dynegy's customer service reputation, the automatic enrollment process, rate stability after the initial contract period, and the impact on customers with third-party suppliers or solar installations.
What's Next
Eligible customers have until September 10, 2025, to opt out before automatic enrollment begins with October meter reads. The town will conduct quarterly "sweep" processes to notify and enroll new residents. Good Energy will provide annual program performance reports to the Department of Public Utilities, which will be published on the program website at weymouthcommunityelectricity.com. After the 50-month contract period ends in December 2029, the town will conduct a new competitive bidding process to select the next supplier.
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