CCA vote at next town meeting

Posted on July 20, 2020 | Comments Off on CCA vote at next town meeting

Thank you for your interest in our upcoming virtual forum on Community Choice Aggregation on Wed. July 22 nd 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.   You have been registered and will receive a link to the Zoom meeting on Wed morning and we look forward to “seeing” you on Wed evening at 7:30 p.m.  Attached is some information on CCA, Q & A and helpful websites.  Thanks again for taking the time to get informed!

Folks can sign up by sending an email to MEAMedfield@gmail.com. 

Helen Dewey
Medfield Environment Action

WARRANT ARTICLE Community Choice Energy Aggregation (CCA) A Good Choice for Medfield Q: What is Community Choice Aggregation (CCA)? A: CCA is a program that allows local governments to procure power on behalf of their residents from an alternative supplier while still receiving transmission and distribution service from their existing utility provider (Eversource in Medfield). Nearly half of Massachusetts cities and towns have engaged with CCA programs since this was authorized by the Mass. Utility Restructuring Act (1997). Massachusetts was first, but today, seven states have programs that serve more than five million customers nationwide. Q: Why is CCA a good idea? A: CCA is attractive for any community that wants more green power than is offered by default, more supply options, and/or lower electricity prices. By aggregating, a community gains leverage to negotiate better rates with competitive suppliers and to choose greener power sources. By choosing sources that are greener-than-default (more Class I RECs), CCAs can help accelerate implementation of renewable power sources in the state and region. Q: What does approving this Article commit Medfield to? A: With approval at Town Meeting, Medfield will be allowed to apply to become a municipal aggregator and investigate alternative supply options. It does not commit the town to do anything besides this but is a necessary step for the town to pursue and evaluate options. The Selectmen, for any reason, can later choose to accept or to not move forward after receiving bids. Q: What makes this a good choice for Medfield Residents? A: This program can provide Medfielders more choice for electrical energy supply. Residents will have a well-vetted supplier without having to research individually. Many towns have been able to increase their green power content while offering rates comparable to or better than what is currently paid to Eversource. This is dependent on market conditions. Residents may opt-out, reverting to the Eversource basic rate, at any time, without penalty. Q: What will the program cost? A: The minimal cost of managing the program will be incorporated in the new negotiated rate. Medfield will engage an energy broker to manage the process, logistics, and marketing. In many towns, the sourcing and management cost has been substantially less than the savings generated by the programs, meaning net savings for electrical consumers. Q: What will be different for me? A: Not much; the change will be mostly transparent to you. Eversource will bring electricity to your home/ business, service the lines as before, and send you a bill which looks substantially the same. Only the supplier listed on your bill will change. Q: What is the wording of this Warrant Article? A: To see if the town will authorize the Board of Selectmen to initiate the process of seeking to aggregate electrical load through a Community Choice Aggregation Program (CCA) and contract for Medfield residents as authorized by M.G.L. 164, Section 134, and through CCA, decrease greenhouse emissions for the town’s residents by pursuing a percentage of Class I designated renewable energy that is greater than that required by the Massachusetts Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). For more information visit http://www.town.medfield.net/326/Medfield-Energy-Committee Helpful Resources/Websites for Additional Info on Community Choice Aggregation The Green Energy Consumer Alliance: https://www.greenenergyconsumers.org/ Offers programs/services on green energy choices, advocates for energy policies and educates New England energy consumers Green Energy Consumer Alliance on Community Aggregation https://www.greenenergyconsumers.org/aggregation Massachusetts Climate Action Network MCAN: https://www.massclimateaction.org/ Mass Climate Action on Community Aggregation: https://www.massclimateaction.org/community aggregation Mass.gov information on Municipal Aggregation: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/municipal-aggregation https://www.masslive.com/politics/2020/01/mass-senate-introduces-climate-change-bills-calling-for-netzero- emissions-by-2050-with-5-year-targets.html From Energy News about the Success/Shattered Expectations of Municipal Aggregation in Massachusetts: https://energynews.us/2020/02/28/northeast/municipal-aggregation-savings-shattering-expectations- in-massachusetts/ Towns with Approved Municipal Aggregations https://www.mass.gov/info-details/municipal-aggregation#approved-municipal-aggregations- List of Competitive Suppliers in Eastern Mass for personal homeowners to consider: https://www.eversource.com/NSTAR/CustomerCare/residential/CompetitiveSupplierAdmin/Competitive- SuppliersDisplay
WARRANT ARTICLE Community Choice Energy Aggregation (CCA) A Good Choice for Medfield Q: What is Community Choice Aggregation (CCA)? A: CCA is a program that allows local governments to procure power on behalf of their residents from an alternative supplier while still receiving transmission and distribution service from their existing utility provider (Eversource in Medfield). Nearly half of Massachusetts cities and towns have engaged with CCA programs since this was authorized by the Mass. Utility Restructuring Act (1997). Massachusetts was first, but today, seven states have programs that serve more than five million customers nationwide. Q: Why is CCA a good idea? A: CCA is attractive for any community that wants more green power than is offered by default, more supply options, and/or lower electricity prices. By aggregating, a community gains leverage to negotiate better rates with competitive suppliers and to choose greener power sources. By choosing sources that are greener-than-default (more Class I RECs), CCAs can help accelerate implementation of renewable power sources in the state and region. Q: What does approving this Article commit Medfield to? A: With approval at Town Meeting, Medfield will be allowed to apply to become a municipal aggregator and investigate alternative supply options. It does not commit the town to do anything besides this but is a necessary step for the town to pursue and evaluate options. The Selectmen, for any reason, can later choose to accept or to not move forward after receiving bids. Q: What makes this a good choice for Medfield Residents? A: This program can provide Medfielders more choice for electrical energy supply. Residents will have a well-vetted supplier without having to research individually. Many towns have been able to increase their green power content while offering rates comparable to or better than what is currently paid to Eversource. This is dependent on market conditions. Residents may opt-out, reverting to the Eversource basic rate, at any time, without penalty. Q: What will the program cost? A: The minimal cost of managing the program will be incorporated in the new negotiated rate. Medfield will engage an energy broker to manage the process, logistics, and marketing. In many towns, the sourcing and management cost has been substantially less than the savings generated by the programs, meaning net savings for electrical consumers. Q: What will be different for me? A: Not much; the change will be mostly transparent to you. Eversource will bring electricity to your home/ business, service the lines as before, and send you a bill which looks substantially the same. Only the supplier listed on your bill will change. Q: What is the wording of this Warrant Article? A: To see if the town will authorize the Board of Selectmen to initiate the process of seeking to aggregate electrical load through a Community Choice Aggregation Program (CCA) and contract for Medfield residents as authorized by M.G.L. 164, Section 134, and through CCA, decrease greenhouse emissions for the town’s residents by pursuing a percentage of Class I designated renewable energy that is greater than that required by the Massachusetts Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). For more information visit http://www.town.medfield.net/326/Medfield-Energy-Committee Helpful Resources/Websites for Additional Info on Community Choice Aggregation The Green Energy Consumer Alliance: https://www.greenenergyconsumers.org/ Offers programs/services on green energy choices, advocates for energy policies and educates New England energy consumers Green Energy Consumer Alliance on Community Aggregation https://www.greenenergyconsumers.org/aggregation Massachusetts Climate Action Network MCAN: https://www.massclimateaction.org/ Mass Climate Action on Community Aggregation: https://www.massclimateaction.org/community aggregation Mass.gov information on Municipal Aggregation: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/municipal-aggregation https://www.masslive.com/politics/2020/01/mass-senate-introduces-climate-change-bills-calling-for-netzero- emissions-by-2050-with-5-year-targets.html From Energy News about the Success/Shattered Expectations of Municipal Aggregation in Massachusetts: https://energynews.us/2020/02/28/northeast/municipal-aggregation-savings-shattering-expectations- in-massachusetts/ Towns with Approved Municipal Aggregations https://www.mass.gov/info-details/municipal-aggregation#approved-municipal-aggregations- List of Competitive Suppliers in Eastern Mass for personal homeowners to consider: https://www.eversource.com/NSTAR/CustomerCare/residential/CompetitiveSupplierAdmin/Competitive- SuppliersDisplay

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