Brendan Fitzpatrick
Jan 15
News

City Council Learns More About Framingham Community Electricity Program

A two-year deal with First Point Power aims to provide local consumers with cleaner, more affordable energy.

FRAMINGHAM - Framingham City Council members heard more details on the new Framingham Community Electricity program during their meeting at the Memorial Building on Tuesday, January 14.

The signing of a two-year agreement between the city and First Point Power was announced last month. The new program, which aims to provide more clean and affordable power across the community through group buying, is slated to be launched for Framingham residents and businesses owners in March. The city will purchase the electricity from First Point, with fixed rates offered to Eversource customers enrolled in the program through March of 2027.

Eversource’s basic service customers will automatically be enrolled in Framingham Community Electricity’s offerings, but they can opt out of the program if they so choose. Residents and business owners can opt out from January 24 through February 26. The program does not replace Eversource as the local utility.

“In many ways, people’s relationship with Eversource will remain the same in this program,” Framingham Sustainability Coordinator Shawn Luz said during a presentation to the City Council on Tuesday.

“Eversource is going to continue to deliver the electricity, they’ll continue to be the entity you call if the power goes out, they’re going to send you only one bill with those supply charges, and then in addition: if you have any discounts, you’ll continue to get those through the program as well.”

The price for those being automatically enrolled in the Framingham Community Electricity program—labeled as the Standard Green price—is 12.818 cents per kilowatt hour. That’s lower than Eversource’s current basic service price of 13.241 center per kilowatt hour. Proponents of the new group buying model boast using 35% of energy from new renewable sources across New England through the Standard Green option. Alternatively, the Green Plus rate—which will use 100% of energy from new renewable sources in the region—is quoted at 15.418 cents per kilowatt hour during the life of the agreement. The Framingham Basic option is 12.588 cents per kilowatt hour; it will provide the minimum amount of new renewable energy sources in New England as required by law, similar to Eversource’s current basic service.

Luz explained that those with their own contract for electricity supplies will not be automatically enrolled in the Framingham Community Electricity program, while those with solar panels or those in a community solar program will not see a change. Discounts for those with low incomes along with those with fuel assistance will also not see a change when the new program begins. Eversource Budget Billing customers will not have that applied for supply charges through the new model, according to Luz.

Multiple members of the City Council—including Adam Steiner of District 3, District 2’s Brandon Ward, and Tracey Bryant of District 9—expressed optimism for the new program. District 8’s Leslie White Harvey felt similarly, though she added that she hopes for extensive community outreach efforts prior to the launch March.

District 4 City Council member Michael Cannon did note a concern with what may happen after the initial contract with First Point expires in 2027, along with the implications for consumers who may face different energy rates. He also cautioned officials that information on this program may not reach all residents and business owners, a point echoed by At-Large Councilor Janet Leombruno.

“This is a warm sentiment, but the execution—historically, at least in Massachusetts and some other states—has been really poor,” Cannon continued.

“I’m hopeful we can figure out a way to do better, and I’m hopeful that we all have on our calendars what happens in two years, when the first contract expires, to make sure that we’re protecting the public.”

Luz explained that the program does offer stable pricing for the next two years, compared to the fluctuating price of Eversource’s standard service, though he pointed out that the city cannot guarantee savings on utility bills in the future. Still, he believes that the plan can open up the wider conversation on other ways for local stakeholders to save money while committing to environmentally friendly initiatives.

Community members are invited to learn more about Framingham Community Electricity during a series of public information sessions:

-February 5 at 7 p.m. at Fuller Middle School (in Spanish)

-February 9 at 1 p.m. at the Brazilian American Center (BRACE) (in Portuguese)

-February 10 at 2 p.m. at the Callahan Center

-February 13 at 7 p.m. at the Main Library branch

Additionally, the Memorial Building will be the site of drop-in office hours from 3 to 7 p.m. on February 25 for those looking for more details.

Further articles

Esta semana no The Frame: o Finance Subcommittee ouve as mudanças propostas para as classificações e compensações de funcionários municipais, subsídios estaduais estão prontos para impulsionar programas de faculdade antecipada na Framingham State University e no Massachusetts Bay Community College, e uma revisão dos eventos recentes na State House: a nova bandeira de Framingham está pronta para ser exibida em Beacon Hill, enquanto o estado recebeu o controle de um prédio no centro da cidade para abrir caminho para um novo centro regional de justiça.

This week on The Frame: the Finance Subcommittee listens to proposed changes to municipal employee classifications and compensation, state grants are set to boost early college programs at Framingham State University and Massachusetts Bay Community College, and a review of recent events at the State House: Framingham's new flag is set to be displayed on Beacon Hill, while the state has been given control of a downtown building to pave the way for a new regional justice center.

Local officials laid out ideas for the classification and compensation of non-union jobs within Framingham’s government.