Program Supplier Contact Information:
Phone: (855) 639-8174
Community Electricity Aggregation (CEA) is a program in Massachusetts that came out of the Restructuring Act of 1997, specifically Chapter 164: Section 134. Aggregation of electrical load by municipality or group of municipalities; adoption of energy plan. The Act empowers cities and towns to create large buying groups of residential and business electricity accounts in order to seek bids for cheaper supply rates, essentially bulk-purchasing. The purpose of the Act was to ensure that the benefits of energy deregulation were passed on to residential customers and businesses by providing the ability to “aggregate” their accounts within their municipal boundaries in order to obtain competitive bids from Third Party Suppliers (TPS). Grouping residential accounts together creates economies of scale, enabling participating municipalities to achieve greater savings for account holders as a whole. You may find more information about the electric industry in the state by visiting the Department of Public Utilities (D.P.U.) website or the Department of Energy Resources website on municipal aggregation.
The objective of CEA is simply to lower the cost of electricity bills through the formation of a buying group composed of residents and businesses of one or more municipalities without interfering with the level of service provided by the utility, in this case, Eversource, distributing the electricity supply.
First, the municipality passed an article at Town Meeting. Sudbury then used Good Energy, L.P. to seek bids from TPS to obtain competitive electricity rates for participants. An account holder will be able to opt out of the program during a 30-day period at the onset of the program. They may also leave the program at any point with no associated termination penalties or fees.
The goal of CEA is primarily savings and long-term price stability, though savings cannot be guaranteed, due to the fact that there is no visibility into future rates. Participants will see no change in their utility bill other than a change in price on energy supply. They will continue to receive a single bill, make one payment, and continue to receive the same level of service from Eversource.
Yes, your single bill will continue to come from Eversource.
The program originally launched in August 2017.
If you are currently receiving your electricity supply from Eversource Basic Service, you do not need to do anything. You will automatically be enrolled in the program unless you choose to opt out.
No, residents and businesses can opt out without penalty during a 30-day opt-out period. Opt-out notices are provided via USPS mail prior to the program commencing for eligible account holders. Simply return the opt-out notice within 30 days and your account(s) will not be included. Participating account holders may leave the program at any time without penalty.
Your electricity bill has two cost components, delivery and supply. The aggregation program only changes the supply component of your bill. The delivery portion of your bill will not be affected.
Enrollment originally took place in July 2017 and began in August 2017. Changes were reflected on the following billing cycle.
If you move within the municipal boundaries of the town, you may preemptively contact NextEra Energy Services by phone Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM EST (855) 639-8174, or via email at nesgovagg@
Yes, you can continue to participate in a budget billing/equal payment plan. No action is required to remain in the budget billing/equal payment plan.
No, the program will focus exclusively on electricity.
Residents and businesses who are enrolled in the program may terminate their participation at any time without any early termination or exit fees.
Each eligible account holder should have received written notification after the bid informing them of the winning supplier price compared to Eversource’s rates, in addition to the account holder™s right to opt out. After the 30-day opt-out period has ended and the program has begun, each eligible account holder that did not opt out will see the following indicated on their Eversource bill:
“As of your next cycle meter read your supplier will be NextEra Energy Services.”
This is the only notification from Eversource confirming participation in the program that account holders will receive.
Yes, any account currently on basic service that is not enrolled with a TPS is eligible and will be automatically enrolled unless they choose to opt out.
The final contract required the winning supplier to maintain the new rate for the entire term. This is called a fixed rate.
The consultant has extensive knowledge of how utility tariff rates are determined, and as such, structured a term with the goal of providing annual savings throughout the term of the contract.
Only TPS licensed by the state were eligible to bid. In addition, an in-depth request for proposal was disseminated by the energy consultant to interested TPS requiring them to provide their qualifications. Among other things, the request required suppliers to demonstrate financial strength, experience, in addition to customer service capabilities.
No, by law, utilities are not permitted to bid. With regard to supply, the utility only provides default service, however, the utility will always be responsible for delivering your electricity.
The current contract term will be for 40 months. This term selection was based on the most favorable price and was selected by Sudbury’s governing body.
No, there is no contract to sign. The program is designed to be as easy as possible for participants. Accounts are automatically enrolled as long as they are currently receiving supply from the utility.
Residents and small commercial accounts that are enrolled in the program may terminate their participation in the program at any time without any early termination or exit fees. They may also re-enroll in the program at a later date with no associated re-enrollment fees, but are not guaranteed the original contract rate. The aggregation program rate will be reflected on the account holder’s utility bill on the next available billing cycle. Because switching suppliers requires at least two days to process by your utility, you are encouraged to re-enroll in the program at least five business days prior to the meter read date indicated on your utility bill in order to ensure re-enrollment occurs on a timely basis.
Having a solar system which allows you to earn net metering credits does not preclude you from participating in the aggregation program. As long as the account holder is receiving supply from Eversource, they are able to participate in the aggregation program and will continue to receive net metering credits from the utility. Net metering will work in the same way as before you joined the CEA program. Your net metering credits will continue to appear on your Eversource bill and will continue to be calculated based on Eversource’s Basic Service price. In addition, there is no change in SREC eligibility or the ability to sell the SRECs. For a more detailed explanation, please click here.
All service and billing questions will continue to be directed to Eversource at (800) 592-2000.
Dynegy is the winning supplier for the program. They may be reached by phone Monday through Friday from at 9 AM to 5 PM EST (855) 639-8174, or via email at nesgovagg@
For those who wish to select the Premium 100% Local Green option, please contact the program supplier, NextEra Energy Services, directly at (855) 639-8174 Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM EST, or via email at nesgovagg@
Yes, you can change your program option selection at any time and without penalty and continue to participate in the program.
No, the delivery of your electricity is always the responsibility of the utility. As a result of energy deregulation in 1997 in Massachusetts, utilities are only able to collect revenue from delivering the power to your meter, not from the actual supply. This is why utilities in Massachusetts are indifferent to the supply portion of the bill. Simply put, your utility does not make any money on the actual electricity they supply to your account(s). They only generate revenue from the delivery of that electricity.
No, you will not be charged a higher delivery rate; delivery rates do not change based on participation in a CEA program. Delivery rates are set by the utility and are regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities.
TPS are currently very active within the Commonwealth. This is due to the recent significant increases in electricity rates for all utilities within Massachusetts. We strongly advise any account holder to read the complete contract fine print and have a clear understanding of any termination penalties, along with rate details, before agreeing to purchase electricity from a TPS.
No, unfortunately, you may continue to receive other TPS offers. It is important, therefore, to remember the details of the aggregation program, i.e., the duration of the program, rate, etc. Very often, due to the length of time commonly associated with these types of programs, participants forget the program is still in effect, when in fact there may be months or even years remaining. Sometimes this results in a participant inadvertently leaving the program for what they may believe to be a better offer. You are encouraged to remember that the CEA program is operated under the due diligence of your municipality and though not impossible, it is unlikely that other offers will be more competitive. Please regularly visit this site and your municipality’s site(s) for updates.
No, your municipality does not profit from a CEA program.
The energy consultant will be responsible for managing all aspects of the program and keeping the municipality appropriately informed.
Please check this site for updates and look for announcements from your municipality and local news outlets.
Good Energy’s due diligence process required bidding suppliers to meet strict qualification requirements. Among other things, the request required suppliers to demonstrate financial strength and experience, as well as customer service capabilities. This process minimizes any chance of a supplier going out of business. If the supplier is bought, the purchasing entity will continue to provide supply service under the existing contract terms.
No, there are no changes to your current meter. Eversource continues to read your meter.
No, no deposit is required.
Good Energy will work with your community to obtain renewal pricing. Similar to the original term, eligible customers will be given the opportunity to opt out.
No, the municipality does not pay any administrative fees.
In 1997, the State of Massachusetts became the first state to pass municipal electric aggregation legislation, a type of program designed to save consumers money on their electricity bills. In fact, in 1997, the Commonwealth formed the Cape Light Compact, the first municipal electric aggregation program in the country. Six other states have since followed. The programs go by different names in different states, but the bulk-purchasing principles upon which they operate are largely the same. By aggregating, or grouping, a large number of electric accounts together, economies of scale are created, enabling participating municipalities to achieve greater savings for consumers than could normally have been achieved by the individual customer.
For the Town of Sudbury and other communities in Greater Boston, Green Energy Consumers Alliance, Inc. (previously Massachusetts Energy Consumers Alliance) is supplying the local renewable energy above the amount required by the state law known as the Renewable Portfolio Standard. Green Energy Consumers Alliance, a Boston-based nonprofit, purchases renewable energy wholesale mostly from community-based wind power projects located in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Green Energy Consumers Alliance has entered into a number of long-term contracts with wind power projects located in communities such as Plymouth, Gloucester, Scituate, and Ipswich.
Good Energy, L.P. is a leading national energy management and consulting firm that has been implementing large and small community choice aggregation programs in various states across the country since 2008. They have partnered with your municipality to design and operate this CCE program. Good Energy is headquartered in New York City and is currently the retained community electricity aggregation consultant for over 200 communities across the country. Sudbury selected Good Energy to serve as its energy consultant through a competitive process, in partnership with neighboring cities and towns.