For Immediate Release: 10/13/2023 1:31 pm
WORCESTER, Mass. – Prices for Green Worcester ElectriCITY, Worcester’s electricity aggregation program, will change and move lower in December, when the current electricity supply contract with Direct Energy Services, LLC (“Direct Energy”) ends and a new, 24-month contract with Direct Energy takes effect. The new prices for each option are as follows:
The new prices are designed to provide long-term stability and are fixed for 24 months from December 2023 to December 2025 meter reads. Both prices include a $0.001/kWh operational fee that will support aggregation program management and energy initiatives in the City. Both prices are below National Grid’s 9-month winter residential price of 18.213 cents/kWh, which takes effect November 1, 2023. Because National Grid’s price will change in August 2024, savings after this date cannot be guaranteed.
Green Worcester ElectriCITY has a track record of providing measurable value to the community, including providing price protection during last winter’s volatile electricity market. To date, Green Worcester ElectriCITY has saved participants more than $12 million since the program’s launch in 2020. In addition, through the program, participants in the Standard Green and 100% Green options buy more electricity generated from renewable sources than is required by law. Their participation has helped the community to avoid more than 155 million pounds of CO2 emissions. This is equivalent to the emissions associated with 15,645 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles for a year.
It is important to note that, while the City aims to provide prices that are competitive with National Grid, National Grid’s prices change, and their future prices are not known. As a result, future savings compared with National Grid cannot be guaranteed.
No action is required for current Green Worcester ElectriCITY participants. All active program participants will continue to be enrolled in the program, with the price change taking effect for their December 2023 meter read. The new program price will first appear on January 2024 National Grid electric bills, and the electricity supplier will be listed as “Green Worc Electricity Aggregation Prog.”
Participants will be enrolled in the same program option they have in the current Direct Energy contract. However, participants may choose a different program option or leave the program before the new contract with Direct Energy takes effect, and at any time in the future, with no penalty or fee.
Tax-exempt account holders who previously submitted tax-exemption documentation to Direct Energy do not have to submit it again for the contract that takes effect in December.
Green Worcester ElectriCITY is a group electricity purchasing program from the City of Worcester for Worcester residents and businesses. Massachusetts state law allows cities and towns to choose the electricity supplier for their electricity customers rather than have the local electric utility, which is National Grid for Worcester, buy their electricity. Green Worcester ElectriCITY offers long-term pricing and consumer protections, such as the ability to leave the program at any time with no penalty or fees. Participating in the program changes the price that National Grid uses to calculate the Supply Services portion of participants’ electric bills. National Grid’s delivery charges are not impacted by participation in Green Worcester ElectriCITY. Additional terms and conditions apply for large commercial consumers.
To enroll, make changes to enrollment, or get more information, participants are encouraged to visit the program website at GreenWorcesterElectriCITY.com or contact customer support with Worcester’s program consultants at 1-833-926-1207.
