By Joe Stewart

The state’s Department of Public Utilities has been busy reviewing municipal aggregation plans and has recently approved Norfolk’s municipal aggregation plan and held a hearing on Wrentham’s plan. 

A municipal aggregation plan allows a town to buy electricity for its residents and businesses. Both Norfolk and Wrentham’s plans are voluntary and give customers the option to pay the town’s negotiated rate or opt-out and choose a different supplier.  

Municipal aggregation started in 1997 and lets towns and cities collect bids and purchase electricity for their communities. Since the first plan was approved in August 2000, 218 plans have been approved. As of January 2024, more than 1.27 million people in Massachusetts are part of a municipal aggregation program.

According to Norfolk’s website, the goal of the aggregation program is to provide savings over time compared to Eversource’s Basic Service, but savings—now or in the future—cannot be guaranteed.  Rates can change two or more times a year, depending on rate class. This means the aggregation rate might not always be lower than the Eversource Basic Service rate. 

Norfolk contracted with Colonial Power Group to assist with its program. According to Mark Cappadona, President, Colonial Power Group is working with nearly 100 Massachusetts cities and towns, including 80 who are currently operating community aggregation plans.  

The State’s Electric Power Division tracks rates and Norfolk residents have experienced significant changes in their rates from a low of $0.10753 in the summer of 2021 to a high of $0.25776 in the winter of 2022 - the average rate since January 2021 has been $0.1604:  

https://bit.ly/3DnRKpM.

Currently, Norfolk residents pay $0.18906/kWh under National Grid’s basic rate. Nearby towns with community aggregation plans enjoy lower rates than do Norfolk residents. Ashland’s rate is $0.15988/kWh, Holliston’s is $0.14771, and Franklin recently negotiated a $0.15 rate which will be good through November 2025. 

Cappadona expects Norfolk to review options in January and possibly accept a bid from a licensed supplier. If so, Norfolk residents could expect to join Norfolk’s program as early as April, following the 30-day opt-out period.

Wrentham contracted with Good Energy to assist with its aggregation plan. According to Allison McNeill, Client Specialist and Program Manager for Wrentham, Good Energy has 68 Massachusetts clients representing about 650,000 households including Attleboro, Norton, and Plainville. Wrentham submitted its aggregation plan to the DPU in October and their hearing was held in early December. Doug Enos, Wrentham’s assistant Town Manager, spoke at the hearing and summarized Wrentham’s plan as, “We are planning to provide two choices. First, Wrentham Standard is designed to maximize potential cost savings, though we do recognize that savings over National Grid are not guaranteed; second, Wrentham Plus which has a higher renewable energy component to support emission reductions in line with Commonwealth’s climate goals.”

Like Norfolk, Wrentham’s plan requires DPU review and approval, which is expected in early January. Following approval, Wrentham residents could see their plan go into effect as soon as June 2025. McNeill noted that Wrentham will launch its plan when rates are favorable to residents.   

Norfolk’s aggregation plan is available at https://bit.ly/3DgmtW0 and more information about Colonial’s client-towns is available at https://colonialpowergroup.com/our-communities/.

Wrentham’s plan is available at https://wrenthamcommunityelectricity.com/.