Weymouth Moves Forward with Community Electricity Aggregation Plan
Town aims to reduce electricity costs for residents while enhancing green energy initiatives
WEYMOUTH - March 3 - The Weymouth Town Council has taken the next step in approving a community electricity aggregation plan that could potentially reduce electricity costs for residents while supporting green energy initiatives.
During the March 3 council meeting, the Economic Development Committee presented measure 25002, which officially ends the public review period for the town's community electricity aggregation plan.
"We're here tonight to end the public review period," said John O'Rourke, a representative from Good Energy, the consulting firm working with the town on the initiative. "Our next step after this is to submit the plan to the Department of Public Utilities for their approval."
The plan will now enter a 120-day review window with the Department of Public Utilities (DPU). If approved, the town will move forward with implementing the program.
John MacLeod, Weymouth's Director of Asset Management, explained that the aggregation plan is "just another step in our green community initiatives that we started back in 2017."
"This was a natural fit as we saw it to bring to the community as just purely a community benefit where we would be able to offer them possibly a reduction in their costs for energy and enhance the green footprint that we are making on the earth," MacLeod said.
The community electricity aggregation program allows the town to go out to bid for electricity supply on behalf of all its residents. According to O'Rourke, 188 out of 304 eligible communities in Massachusetts already have approved plans.
"Almost two-thirds of the residents in the Commonwealth are under some sort of a plan like this," O'Rourke noted.
Once the DPU approves the plan, it will take approximately three months to launch the program. During the final 90 days before launch, the town will conduct an intensive marketing campaign including public meetings, press releases, website information, and social media outreach.
Residents currently on National Grid's basic service will receive a customer notification letter explaining the program. The program operates on an opt-out basis, meaning residents are automatically enrolled unless they choose to opt out.
"If they want to be in the program, they don't have to do anything," O'Rourke explained. "If they want to not participate in the program, they can send in an opt-out card, go to the website to opt out online, or call the supplier."
The program will offer two electricity options. The standard product will include the state-mandated 62% renewable energy sources. A second option will provide 100% renewable energy at a slightly higher cost, approximately half a penny more per kilowatt-hour.
Councilor Pascale Burga questioned how the program would affect residents' bills. O'Rourke clarified that the aggregation only affects the supply portion of electricity bills, not the distribution charges.
"When we go out to bid, our aim is to get a bid that's lower than the utility rate. That can't be guaranteed, but essentially we are not going to go out to bid unless we can do that," O'Rourke said.
Councilor Maureen Kiely emphasized the importance of clear communication with residents. "All of the marketing materials and social media will be co-branded with the town to ensure that people understand it's not a scam of any sort," she confirmed.
O'Rourke assured the council that typically 80-85% of eligible residents join similar programs initially, with participation often increasing to 90-92% over time as residents learn more about the benefits.
Councilor Rick Coughlin praised the initiative, saying, "This is something that the town gets nothing out of. It's an observation that got made to say, 'Gee, you know what, the town itself has enough going on within its streetlights and the town buildings and everything else to be able to negotiate a deal with suppliers,' and said, 'This may be something we could offer to our citizens.' Kudos, that's just kind of stepping outside what would typically happen. It's really public service."
The council unanimously approved the measure, allowing the town to move forward with submitting the plan to the DPU.
Other Council Business:
* The council approved National Grid's request to install 1,300 feet of 12-inch plastic gas main on Pond Street.
* A joint petition from National Grid and Verizon for pole location on Windsor Road was approved.
* The council approved 19 reappointments to various town boards and committees.
* Two reserve fund transfers were referred to the Budget Management Committee: $51,900 for police training costs and $407,500 for projected overtime expenses in the Weymouth Police Department.
* Anna Bagdonas was appointed to the Historical Commission for a three-year term expiring June 30, 2028.
The next scheduled Town Council meeting will be held Monday, March 17.