EASTHAMPTON — The city is launching a new municipal aggregation program called Easthampton Community Electricity this October.
According to the city, the program is designed to provide stability, protection against seasonal energy price changes and offer alternatives to increase renewable energy use.
A community meeting for the public to ask questions and learn more about the recently announced program will be on Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. inside City Hall or online.
According to a city press release on the program, Easthampton Community Electricity will offer three new electricity options to all Easthampton residents and businesses: Easthampton Standard, Easthampton Basic, and Easthampton Plus. The standard option, the city’s primary offering, will cost less than the current Eversource Residential Basic Service rate at launch and is set to provide more renewable energy to customers. Future savings, however, are not guaranteed, according to the city.
Easthampton Plus will offer 100% renewable energy, and Easthampton Basic will meet the state minimum standards for renewable energy. The public can choose any of the three options or opt out entirely with no penalty, as the program is not mandatory for residents. The enrollment deadline for the program is Sept. 12.
Easthampton Community Electricity will aim to provide long-term price stability, with prices fixed for 13 months until November 2027 meter reads. The program will also support regional renewable energy growth by sourcing all additional, voluntary renewable energy from ‘MA Class 1” resources, consisting primarily of wind and solar projects located within New England.
Mayor Salem Derby told Reminder Publishing the effort behind the program stems back to 2022 through the Energy and Sustainability Committee and was approved by the state’s Department of Public Utilities in January 2025.
Residents who opt in to the program would save $6 per month during the next 13 months, according to Derby.
“Really, this program changes one item on the consumer’s electric bill, which is the supplier for electricity. It doesn’t affect delivery or maintenance or anything like that, and so what this does is this locks in for 13 months a rate that is cheaper than Eversource’s standard rate,” Derby said. “You’re getting a better price, and you’re doing something better for the environment.”
Easthampton residential and business electricity customers who use Eversource Basic Service supply are eligible for automatic enrollment in Easthampton Standard as of their October 2026 meter reading. In August 2026, all eligible customers will receive a notification letter on behalf of the city from Direct Energy, the program’s chosen electricity supplier. The letter will outline the upcoming enrollment process, explaining how to select an alternative to Easthampton Standard, or opt out entirely before the program begins.
Derby explained the 13 months is due to the uncertainty currently seen in the energy market. He said plans are to get more residents on board with the program for the period before coming back next year in an attempt to secure a new and improved energy contract.
“Because the war in Iran creates a little bit more instability in the energy market, we realized that doing a 13 month term on this would be smart because we want to relook in 13 months where the energy market is, because it might be much more advantageous to do a shorter period like 13 months and then reup on a new contract at a better rate after 13 months is up depending on what’s going on in the Middle East,” he explained. “Really, this was a strategic position based around what’s going on geopolitically around the world and the kind of volatility of energy prices.”
Electricity customers who are currently enrolled with a third-party supplier will not receive the notification letter and will not be automatically enrolled. While these customers can voluntarily join the program, they are advised to check whether their current supplier charges early termination fees or penalties.
Derby reiterated that participation in Easthampton Community Electricity will only change the “supply” portion of residents’ Eversource electricity bill. Eversource will continue to manage electricity billing, maintain poles and wires and respond to storm outages. Existing benefits, such as net metering or community solar credits, low-income or heat pump discount, and budget billing arrangements, will continue uninterrupted.
“I think it’s an easy way for people to do something that’s good for the environment and to save some money, and I think it’s the path that we should be moving toward as a city, is to try and help our citizens mitigate the costs of electricity because we all know that it’s just been going up,” Derby said.
For more information about the program, or to opt out, visit EasthamptonCommunityElectricity.com or call 238-6028. Derby also posted an informational video on his Facebook page about the program and encouraged the public to come to the Sept. 3 meeting to learn more about Easthampton Community Electricity.
“Really, this is honestly like going to Costco for your electricity. When you can buy in bulk, you’re going to get a better price, and that’s the reason why the program is an opt-out program and not an opt-in because we want to try and get as many people signed up and on board because that’s going to help us keep the prices low as we look into the future,” Derby said. “When you pool your resources, you always get a better deal, and that’s kind of what we’re doing here. It really doesn’t impact any other part of the consumers’ experience.”
