Whitman Launches Municipal Electricity Aggregation Program with Locked-In Rates Through 2029
WHITMAN - September 4 - Whitman residents and businesses will have access to competitive electricity rates through a new municipal aggregation program set to launch in October, with pricing locked in for 50 months through December 2029. The town has contracted with Dynegy Energy Services East LLC to provide electricity supply at rates below current National Grid basic service rates.
The Full Story
Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter announced that Whitman received final approval from the Department of Public Utilities in March 2025 for its community electricity program, after working with municipal aggregation consultant Good Energy LLP for over two years. The town accepted bids from electricity suppliers in June 2025 and awarded the contract to Dynegy Energy Services East LLC.
Rachel Ferdinand, client success specialist with Good Energy, presented two electricity options to residents. The Whitman Standard option offers electricity at 14.184 cents per kilowatt-hour with the state-required 63% renewable energy content. The Whitman Plus option provides 100% renewable energy at 15.029 cents per kilowatt-hour. Both rates are significantly below National Grid's current basic service rate of 15.484 cents per kilowatt-hour, which is effective until January 31, 2026.
"The real purpose of this program is to offer residents and businesses in Whitman competitive pricing, as well as increased options for your electricity supply," Ferdinand explained. However, she cautioned that "although savings is a goal of the program, I just can't guarantee that it will always be below National Grid, due to the fact that National Grid pricing changes every six months."
The program operates through automatic enrollment for customers currently using National Grid basic service. Eligible residents received notification letters in late August and must opt out by September 22 to avoid being enrolled in the program starting with their October meter reading. Ferdinand emphasized that "participation is voluntary" and "there will never be a fee or a penalty to opt out of the program."
Several residents raised concerns about Dynegy's corporate history, including past bankruptcies and legal issues. Ferdinand responded that "a lot of the stuff that you'll find online has to do with the retail side of the business, which is actually completely separate from the municipal aggregation side of the business that we work with."
The Whitman Plus program includes Class One renewable energy sources, which Ferdinand described as "the crème de la crème of renewable energy, as recognized by Massachusetts." These sources come from new projects in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and some areas of New York, helping to advance regional renewable energy development.
Residents with solar panels or participating in community solar farms can still join the program without affecting their net metering benefits or existing solar arrangements. Those receiving fuel assistance or using National Grid's budget billing will continue to receive those benefits unchanged.
For customers already under contract with third-party electricity suppliers like Constellation, joining the program requires opting in voluntarily. Ferdinand advised these customers to review their existing contracts for potential early termination fees before switching.
Town officials clarified that municipal buildings, including town hall, already operate under a separate two-year contract with Constellation and will not participate in this residential and business program. The regional school district handles its own electricity purchasing independently.
Ferdinand noted that over 100 Massachusetts towns and cities have similar municipal aggregation programs, with some operating for nearly a decade. She will return next Wednesday, September 10, at 10 a.m. to present the program at the Senior Center for residents who could not attend this meeting.
Why It Matters
This program offers Whitman residents and businesses price stability and potential savings on their electricity supply costs over the next four years. With rates locked through December 2029, participants can avoid the uncertainty of National Grid's semi-annual rate changes while accessing increased renewable energy options.
Public Comment
Residents asked detailed questions about the program's mechanics, pricing, solar panel compatibility, exit procedures, and Dynegy's corporate background. Several attendees sought clarification about savings estimates and the relationship between the town's separate electricity contract and the residential program.
What's Next
Residents eligible for automatic enrollment must decide by September 22 whether to opt out of the program. The program officially launches in October 2025 with the first billing cycle. Rachel Ferdinand will conduct another information session at the Senior Center on Wednesday at 10 a.m. for residents who missed this meeting.
Disclosure: South Shore News founder Justin Evans is a current member of the Whitman Select Board.