The Town of Franklin is implementing an electricity program for residents and small business owners designed to reduce the community’s carbon footprint, enhance local control, and achieve more affordable pricing.
The Franklin Community Choice Power Supply Program is an electricity aggregation program that allows for the bulk purchase of electricity for a community on behalf of its residential and small business customers. This type of program was authorized in 1997 by Massachusetts General Law. Electricity customers in Franklin are estimated to collectively save more than $2.0 million over the term of the three-year contract.
Renewable Energy Program
The Town of Franklin was designated as a Green Community in 2018. Its new renewable energy program, which utilizes 100% National Wind Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and aligns with the community’s efforts regarding the use of renewable energy.
By creating this program, Franklin aims to help displace fossil fuel generation and consumption, increase local control in its energy purchasing, and stabilize electricity costs for local residents and small business owners.
Franklin signed a 36-month contract with energy consultant Colonial Power Group and electricity supplier Dynegy Energy Services to design, implement, manage, and supply its electricity program. The Franklin program is slated to begin with the November 2020 meter reads, which will be reflected in ratepayers’ December 2020 invoices.
“In these challenging fiscal times for all families to pay their bills, this is an opportunity to save on electricity costs this winter and residents do not even need to do a thing” said Jamie Hellen, Franklin Town Administrator. “Also, as a certified Green Community, I know many Franklin residents are concerned about our carbon footprint. This new electricity program will allow us to reduce our dependence on non-renewable energy sources and decrease our carbon emissions, while also stabilizing electricity bills during a difficult economic period.”
By implementing a renewable energy program for electricity, Franklin is helping to meet the Massachusetts Global Warming Solutions Act goal of 80 percent emissions reduction by 2050.
Ease of Transition
Most electricity customers never notice that their electricity is being supplied by a new source. There is no change to electric meters; all service and billing questions still go to National Grid; and bills are still paid to and processed by National Grid. The only change is that the name of the electricity supplier on the bill will be Dynegy Energy Services.
Franklin electricity customers currently on National Grid’s basic rate plan will be automatically enrolled in Franklin’s Community Choice Power Supply Program unless they decide to opt-out. Importantly, there are no fees for enrollment or cancellation. Franklin customers can enter and leave the Franklin Community Choice Program at will. However, anyone switching from a contract with a third-party supplier may be subject to penalties or early termination fees charged by that supplier. Ratepayers should verify terms before switching.
There will be no change in electricity service received. Franklin customers will continue to receive one bill from National Grid for both supply and distribution of electricity, and National Grid will process all payments. The selected electricity supplier for Franklin’s energy program, Dynegy Energy Services, will be listed under the “Supply Services” heading on residents’ monthly National Grid bills.
Basic Service rates change twice a year or more, depending on rate class. As a result, the aggregation rate may not always be lower than the Basic Service rate. The goal of the aggregation is to deliver savings over the life of the program against National Grid Basic Service. However, such savings and future savings cannot be guaranteed.
Approximately 150 Massachusetts communities, to date, have chosen to develop community choice electricity programs to benefit their residents and small business owners. Note: Residents and business owners with a supplier block on their account must contact National Grid to request that the block be removed to participate in Franklin’s Community Choice electricity program.
The Town and representatives of Colonial Power Group will hold two Zoom information sessions on Thursday, October 1, 2020 at 7 PM and Monday, October 5, 2020 at 10 AM.
The links can be found on colonialpowergroup.com/franklin and
https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator/pages/municipal-aggregation
If you are unable to attend, recordings will also be posted to these sites and will be rebroadcast on Franklin TV and the Town’s YouTube page.
For more information on the Franklin’s Community Choice Power Supply Program, you may visit colonialpowergroup.com/franklin or call (866) 485-5858 ext. 1
File can be found on the Town of Franklin page
This is the long awaited municipal aggregation program proposed and approved in 2016 and finally the bids were able to reach a good price early in 2020.
From the Archives:
February 12, 2020 in this audio segment of the Town Council meeting, Town Administrator Jamie Hellen talked of the contract and bid price reached (finally)
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