Municipal electricity aggregation is allowed under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 164 Section 134. More than 150 cities and towns in Massachusetts already have active electricity aggregation programs, and other communities are pursuing similar programs.
By default, electricity customers in Waltham receive Basic Service electricity supply from Eversource. Under a municipal aggregation program, like Waltham Community Electricity (WCE), all eligible customers receiving Basic Service receive a program notice detailing the program details, goals, and ways to participate. Customers can also choose to leave the Program before they are enrolled, known as opting out. Those customers who do not opt out are automatically enrolled in the Standard Product.
Waltham Implementation
In 2019, the City Council authorized the creation of a community electricity program in Waltham. The City then selected consultant Good Energy, L.P. to assist with all aspects of program implementation, including development of a draft plan which was then displayed for public review and approved by the City Council. The MA Department of Energy Resources reviewed the plan and the Department of Public Utilities (DPU), which issued final approval to the Program in November of 2020.
Read the Waltham Aggregation Plan (Approved November 2020)
To launch the Program in May of 2021, the City has launched a comprehensive outreach effort including communication through social and print media,