LONGMEADOW — In cities and towns across Massachusetts, electricity customers have seen the cost of energy rise in recent years, and Longmeadow is no exception. Eversource owns most of the utility poles and wires that transport electricity to homes and businesses in Longmeadow. Customers pay a distribution charge for the use of this infrastructure. Eversource sets the fee for distribution and users are obliged to pay it.
What customers may not realize, however, is that they have a choice when it comes to the other part of the bill: the electricity supply. Moving forward, the town has secured an option designed to save people money with Longmeadow Community Electricity.
“After the past couple winters we’ve been having … a lot of people have come to us about the cost of electricity,” said Town Manager Lyn Simmons.
Longmeadow is working with Good Energy, a firm that navigates the energy industry on behalf of municipalities, including 50 in Massachusetts alone. “Municipal aggregation has been around for a long time,” said Simmons. Voters at the 2023 Town Meeting authorized the town to enter a municipal aggregation program. The town’s “cooperative buying power” allows it to “literally go out to bid in the energy market to find the best price,” she said.
Through this program, Longmeadow has contracted with Direct Energy to supply electricity to residents and businesses. Town building accounts will not be enrolled as they already use a separate, but similar program.
There are three options electricity customers can choose from. The basic level supply cost is 13.07 cents per kWh. The standard option costs 13.47 cents per kWh, but sources 10% more of the energy for renewable resources than the existing 63% required by the state. The plus option provides 100% renewable energy at a cost of 14.38 cents per kWh. These prices are locked in for 15 months. In November 2026, the town can again go out to bid to seek a lower rate.
Eversource’s current supply rate for Western Massachusetts is 13.49 cents per kWh and, according to the company’s website, 76% of its electricity supply is from renewable energy sources. Eversource’s supply rate changes on Feb. 1 and Aug. 1 of each year, depending on the market.
Beginning in August, Longmeadow businesses and residents will be automatically enrolled in the standard program, provided they do not already use a third party electricity supplier. To opt out, customers can send back the opt-out card they received in the mail, call Direct Energy at 866-968-8065, or fill out the opt-out form online at LongmeadowCommunityElectricity.com. Customers must opt out by July 19.
Customers will still receive their electricity through Eversource, and that cost will be listed on customers’ bills as distribution.
For those who have questions, a public hearing on the program will take place on July 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Greenwood Municipal Offices, 231 Maple Rd. People can also attend online using a link at LongmeadowCommunityElectricity.com.
