Energy aggregation would be a win for Canton pocketbooks

By Guest

Dear Editor:

If I called my electric company (Eversource) to negotiate a lower price and demand that it purchase more from producers using renewable or clean sources (like wind, solar, hydro, geothermal), I would get nowhere.

But suppose a town administrator calls and says: I am buying electricity for everyone in my town, residents, businesses and the town’s schools, fire, police, sanitation, town hall, and I want to negotiate the price as well as have you agree to purchase a certain percent of our aggregate of electricity from local producers using clean energy. Eversource would listen. I know this, because it is already being done. On the website municipalaggregation.mass.gov, I counted 168 cities and towns that have begun or completed the process of aggregating their electricity purchases.

Before I moved to Canton, I lived in Newton when the city started aggregation in 2019. I volunteered to poll people about their preferences and lobbied our city administration. It took several years to complete, and our mayor negotiated a great contract. Resident electricity costs remained about the same or were just slightly lower — even when the default for each user was a much higher percentage of electricity generated by renewable sources than the minimum the state mandated. Newton began aggregation with a total of 62 percent of its electric purchases from clean, preferably local sources. Today Newton’s total is 80 percent.

It is expected that, in the short run, the transition to clean electricity will be a bit more expensive, possibly a few dollars per month, depending on usage. As a general rule, the more electricity is generated by clean sources, it is expected to become less expensive. Aggregation programs speed up this outcome for the simple reason that they create a demand for clean energy that electricity-producing companies will have a strong incentive to supply. That’s basic economics, and good capitalism. And Newton residents had to do nothing to achieve this benefit. Not a penny more in taxes or fees.

Meters are read, and customers are billed by Eversource as always, but charges are based on the town’s plan. Each consumer can opt out of the plan and pay whatever Eversource charges, or can opt to pay a little more and increase their demand to 100 percent clean electricity. Aggregation is a win for Canton pocketbooks, and a big win for the climate. As a new Cantonite, I urge you to approve aggregation at town meeting on May 22. The Select Board will do the rest.

Mel Schnall

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