ACTON – Town Administrator John S. Mangiaratti announces that the Acton Power Choice program will have a new energy supplier starting Sept. 1.
The 15-month contract with NextEra Energy Services will bring changes to renewable energy use and pricing.
The Acton Power Choice program (APC) will increase the amount of voluntary renewable energy that is automatically provided to most program participants from 10% to 40%. The change is part of the town’s strategy to decrease greenhouse gas emissions associated with Acton’s energy use and to provide residents and businesses with a town-administered program that stabilizes energy prices, offers protection in the marketplace, and keeps energy dollars in the region.
The increase in renewable content brings APC in line with other ambitious “green” electricity programs in the state. It also advances progress on the town’s goal to eliminate net carbon emissions by 2030, as outlined in the Climate Emergency Declaration passed at the September 2020 Town Meeting.
Specific APC program changes that will take effect in September include:
- APC Standard, the auto-enrollment option, currently provides 30% renewably generated electricity from renewable energy projects in the Northeast, which is 10% above the minimum required by the Massachusetts Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). The amount of additional renewable electricity will quadruple from 10% to 40% when the new contract with NextEra Energy Services takes effect. The price for APC Standard will change to 19.286 cents/kWh. Most program participants are enrolled in APC Standard.
- APC Green, which is available on request, will continue to provide 100% renewably generated electricity. The APC Green price will change to 20.750 cents/kWh.
- APC Basic, which is available on request, includes no additional renewable energy above the minimum required by the RPS. The APC Basic price will change to 17.766 cents/kWh.
For comparison, Eversource’s current Basic Service prices are 17.871 cents/kWh for residential accounts, 17.827 cents/kWh for small business accounts, and 21.883 cents/kWh for large business accounts.
Acton Power Choice prices, which will rise to market level, will be fixed until December 2023. A 15-month contract will ensure that the program is not locked into these prices in the event that energy prices stabilize at lower rates in the future.
Current participants in APC will be enrolled automatically in the new NextEra Energy Services contract with their September meter read and do not need to take any action. Participants will see the new prices on their October 2022 Eversource electricity bills. The supplier will be listed as “NES ー Acton Power Choice.” APC prices affect only the supply portion of participants’ Eversource electricity bills. Eversource’s delivery charges are not affected by participation in APC.
Program participants retain the right to make changes at any time with no fee or penalty. Participants who wish to change their enrollment before the pricing takes effect, such as switching program options or opting out, must submit that change request no later than Wednesday, Sept. 21.
Enrollment change requests can be submitted online here or by calling APC customer support with the town’s program consultants at 1-844-379-9933.
Tax-exempt APC account holders are reminded that they must submit their tax-exemption documentation to NextEra Energy Services. Those looking for more information on this process should visit ActonPowerChoice.com.
To learn more about Acton Power Choice, click here. Customer support is available from the town’s program consultants via email at acton@masspowerchoice.com or by phone at 1-844-379-9933.
To learn more about the town’s climate action planning efforts, click here, or contact the Sustainability Office at sustainability@actonma.gov or by phone at 978-929-6515.
About Acton Power Choice
Acton Power Choice is a group electricity purchasing program provided by the Town of Acton to the community. The town chooses an electricity supplier for the community and determines the price for, and the amount of renewable energy in, the community’s electricity supply. The program provides a town-vetted alternative to Eversource’s Basic Service and to other electricity supply offers in the marketplace. New electricity accounts in Acton are automatically enrolled in Acton Power Choice Standard. The town does not receive any financial compensation from the program. All program participants have the right to opt out at any time. Acton Power Choice participants have helped to reduce the town’s carbon emissions by more than 24 million pounds of carbon dioxide since the program launched in September 2017.