What is Williamstown’s Community Choice Electricity Aggregation?

Williamstown, along with several other Berkshire communities, is providing stable pricing, greener supply, and in some cases savings, to residents on their electric bills through the Community Choice municipal electricity aggregation program.  

A municipal electricity aggregation program enables local governments to combine the purchasing power of their residents and businesses to negotiate better prices, a cleaner/greener supply and contract terms (duration, power mix, renewable sources, etc.) with an alternative electricity supplier. 

Who is enrolled in Williamstown’s Community Choice Electricity Aggregation? Most Williamstown residents are enrolled in the Community Choice Electricity Aggregation program. If you are in the aggregation, the energy SUPPLIER listed on your National Grid bill will be First Point Power.

How green is Williamstown’s Electricity Aggregation? Williamstown’s Community Choice Aggregation program has 25% more renewable energy than required by state law, composed of Massachusetts Class I Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).  

Costs and benefits

By pooling the purchasing power of its households and businesses, Williamstown now offers electricity that is cost competitive and greener than National Grid’s standard offer. (By law, National Grid, like all energy suppliers in Massachusetts, must procure a percentage of their power from renewable sources.) 

And because the Community Choice Aggregation is competitively negotiated, the rates for green energy will often be better than those offered by market sources, such as CleanChoice Energy—and more local! Beware of the claims on offers you get in the mail, as they could end up costing you more!

The Williamstown aggregation standard supply rate is now $0.14750/kWh (November 2025 through November 2028). National Grid’s basic service supply charge for residential customers is currently $.15484/kWh (Aug 2025 – January 2026). That means participating in the town’s Community Choice Aggregation program is a win-win, as your electric supply has a lower price AND higher percentage of local renewable energy.

Basic Service rates from National Grid change twice a year or more, depending on the rate class. As a result, the aggregation rate may not always be lower than the Basic Service rate. The goal of the aggregation is to deliver savings over the life of the program compared to the utilities’ Basic Service rate. However, such savings and future savings cannot be guaranteed.

You may receive offers or advertising from other electricity suppliers on the market. If you are considering switching electricity suppliers you should compare their prices and terms to the aggregated program. The other suppliers may or may not offer green energy options beyond state requirements. There may be penalties for canceling your contract, so you should review your agreement carefully. Constellation, for example, after a 90-day guarantee period, may charge $150 if you cancel your contract before the end of the term. 

There is no fee to exit the aggregation. You may call National Grid at 1-800-322-3223 to opt out of the aggregation or contact First Point Power at 888-875-1711.  

“Opting-Up” to 100% MA Class I RECs

Launched in November 2024, the “Opt-Up” option for 100% renewable energy is entirely composed of MA Class I Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). As of November 2025 the “Opt-Up” program offers this greener alternative at $0.16448/kWh through November 2028. That’s only about 1.7 cents more per kWh than the Community Aggregation base rate. For example, a household using 600 kWh per month will see an approximately $10 increase in their monthly bill.

Massachusetts Class I RECs help incentivize new, local renewable energy projects, thereby creating jobs in the New England energy sector, sustaining the New England economy, and contributing to the Williamstown goal of Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions. Our state already requires electricity suppliers to include a portion of such sources, though not 100%.

For ratepayers receiving National Grid’s low-income discount

Currently, qualifying low-income ratepayers can apply to receive the so-called R-2 rate, a 32% discount on their whole electricity bill. You will continue to receive this benefit after you switch to the aggregation program, or if you opt-up to 100% green. 

Electricity bills include service charges and a supplier charge. Services charges include a monthly customer charge, and per kWh charges of transmission, energy efficiency, distributed solar, electric vehicle, renewable energy, and transition.

Purchasing electric supply from a supplier other than National Grid does not affect your eligibility for fuel assistance or other programs designed to help income-eligible families and individuals needing special assistance to meet their energy needs.  To learn more visit National Grid’s Payment Assistance page.

For homes with solar panels

If you have solar panels you will continue to receive your net metering credits, while benefitting from the aggregation rate on your electricity. National Grid will continue to post your net meter or on-bill credits to your electric bill at their Basic Service rate. Therefore, depending on National Grid’s Basic Service rate, credits will be calculated at a higher or lower rate than the aggregation rate.  https://colonialpowergroup.com/net-metering/

For customers who signed up with Green Energy Consumers Alliance

Some of you have been paying for green electricity on top of the National Grid electricity supply rate.  It shows up as an additional charge on your utility bill. You cannot continue in the Green Energy Consumers Alliance program while participating in the aggregation program, so you will need to choose between the two. 

If you are interested in learning more Green Energy Consumers Alliance services visit: www.greenenergyconsumers.org to explore your options or call 800-287-3950 x5 

 For homes with heat pumps

Starting November 1, 2025, a new reduced electric delivery rate will be available for qualified residential customers who use heat pumps for home heating. This seasonal rate applies to electricity usage from November 1 through April 30, helping reduce energy costs during colder months.