ATHOL – At a recent meeting the Selectboard were updated on the implementation of a municipal electricity aggregation plan approved by residents and town officials.
The move to aggregation, designed to give electricity consumers access to plans which are most cost-effective for each customer, was given the go-ahead by Athol voters at the Town Meeting in 2012.
However, it was not until May 2024 that the Selectboard gave permission to Crimson Power Solutions, the town’s consultant, to devise a strategy for implementing a plan, which has been given the moniker Athol PowerUp.
Town Manager Shaun Suhoski previously said attempts were made with other towns to submit an application to the state, but it was denied. When the Covid-19 pandemic began, the matter was set aside.
“Basically, the idea is you can either go individually, and contact an energy supplier, and sign a contract. Or, you can get into an aggregation, which is an ‘opt-out’ program, which many cities and towns do. Or you can go on basic service with a utility; National Grid in Athol’s case,” Crimson CEO Dr. Kevin Kelly said at the Aug. 19 meeting.
Regardless of the option chosen, all utility bills will come from National Grid, said Kelly. “The energy supplier will be mentioned on the second page of your bill. It will mention the Athol PowerUp Program and it will include a rate. This will be in place of the National Grid basic service rate.”
The Athol program, said Kelly, will provide pricing stability, an aggregate price and renewable energy options.
“Any program serving the public has a lot of oversight by the Commonwealth. In this case, there are opportunities that are not typically allowed in most energy contracts which are baked into this program,” he said. “Primarily, you can move into or out of the program at any time, and that’s certainly a benefit. If there’s a household that’s a member of the program and they decide they can find a better price online, going with one of the other energy suppliers in the market, that can leave the (PowerUp) program, no problem, without any penalties. They can participate in that program for, say, a year, and at the end they can pop back into the program if they want.”
Kelly explained that National Grid and other utility companies operating in Massachusetts are required to gradually increase the amount of green energy-produced power that they provide to customers. State law mandates that, in 2025, 63% of electricity come from renewable energy sources. Consumers do have the choice of contracting with a supplier that provides 100% renewable energy-produced electricity.
Kelly said that once a final aggregation has been approved by town officials, it must then receive the approval of the state.
“The plan will then be sent to suppliers,” he continued, “and we’ll try to get the best possible price in the market. And then the town determines the term – whether it will be a one, two or three years.”
The duration of the agreement will depend on the rates available at the time and consumer rates can fluctuate monthly over the length of any agreement, he added.
Board member Mitch Grosky suggested holding public meetings and active outreach to residents and businesses, advising them of their rights regarding Athol PowerUp.
Kelly said finalizing the plan and securing necessary approval from the state could push implementation to late 2026. Before the proposal is sent to the state, the aggregation plan must first be available for 90 days for review by residents.
Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.