Canton Electricity Choice

Canton Electricity Choice program status update

The CEC program will be a municipal electricity aggregation, which is a type of electricity purchasing program for Canton residents and businesses. This program will allow the Town to use our collective buying power to take a big step toward our sustainability goals and provide affordable renewable electricity to Canton’s residential and business community members. The program will provide new choices that give electricity customers greater control over the cost and environmental impact of the electricity they use. Though the program will not be able to guarantee savings, the Town is committed to working toward competitive and stable prices.

There are several important stages we must go through before launching the program. Recently, the Town completed a review of its Aggregation Plan, including making this Plan available for public review and comment.  This review period ended February 2, 2023, and we thank everyone who submitted comments and questions.

The next stage was to submit the Aggregation Plan to state regulators for review and approval. The Plan was submitted to the MA Department of Public Utilities (DPU) for approval on March 24, 2023. Those interested in reviewing the filed Plan can download it from the Town of Canton Electricity Choice website (https://www.masspowerchoice.com/canton ). 

The Town of Canton has received a hearing notice from the Department of Public Utilities

On March 24, 2023, the Town of Canton (“Town”) filed a request with the Department of Public Utilities (“Department”) for approval of a municipal aggregation plan pursuant to G.L. c. 164, § 134. The Department docketed this petition as D.P.U. 23-27. The Department will conduct a virtual public hearing to receive comments on the Town’s filing. The Department will conduct the hearing using Zoom videoconferencing on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 beginning at 2:00 p.m. Attendees can join by entering the link, https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84101358723, from a computer, smartphone, or tablet. No prior software download is required.

For detailed information, including how to submit comments, please download and read the complete Notice of Filing, Request for Comments, and Public Hearing (PDF).

June update on the status of the Canton Electricity Choice (CEC) program

In our last update from March 2023, we reported that the Town submitted its Energy Aggregation Plan to the MA Department of Public Utilities (MA DPU) for approval. Since then, Canton participated in the MA DPU Public Hearing on May 16, 2023. Tom Birmingham, Chair of Canton’s Energy Advisory Committee (CEAC), and Jen Wexler, President of Canton Residents for a Sustainable, Equitable Future (CR4SEF), spoke in favor of the Town’s filing. Town Administrator, Charles E. Doody, and Canton’s energy advisor, Paul Gromer, also participated in the hearing on behalf of the Town.

 Mr. Birmingham explained that the Town has considered energy aggregation carefully and there has been public discussion about it (e.g., through the Town Meeting vote, Select Board meetings, and the town's public meeting regarding the plan). He also emphasized the goals for the program are stable prices and cleaner electricity, and acknowledged the Town understands that savings cannot be guaranteed.
 
 Ms. Wexler shared why CR4SEF supports the Energy Aggregation Plan, including how this Plan addresses the critical need to mitigate climate change by transitioning away from fossil fuels toward more renewable sources of electricity. She also explained the importance of providing Canton residents and businesses with a choice of how much renewable energy electric customers can buy. Both speakers urged the MA DPU to approve the plan.

Those interested in reviewing the filed Plan can download it from the Town of Canton Electricity Choice website (https://www.masspowerchoice.com/canton ).

The MA DPU review period for municipal electricity aggregation programs has recently been lasting between 12-24 months. However, there is current legislation (i.e., Bill H.4266) under review by the MA Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. Importantly, this Bill includes language that establishes a 90-day deadline for the MA DPU to approve or reject a plan or revised plan. If the MA DPU misses this deadline, then the plan would be considered approved subject to the public aggregator’s compliance with the law. The CEAC supports this legislation.

For additional information about Canton Electricity Choice and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the new program website at CantonElectricityChoice.com or call customer support with the Town’s program consultants at 1-844-202-6101.