Missed opportunity: Lancaster signs 2-yr contract for electric supply; higher rate and minimum percentage from renewable sources.

 

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An update to Lancaster's page on the Colonial Power website shows that Lancaster's electric aggregation program has contracted for a rate of 15.1 cents per kWh for two years, beginning this December.   The supply contract includes the state-minimum 57% energy from renewable sources.   Harvard recently announced it's own 2-year contract, offering a lower rate with 100% from renewable sources.

Without any formal announcement from the town or public discussion on a new contract, Lancaster has evidently committed to a new 2-year supply contract for the municipal electric aggregation program:  beginning in December the rate will rise to 15.1 cents/kWh with 57% from renewable sources.  

The updated rate is shown on the "Lancaster" community page on the Colonial Power Group site.   Colonial Power is the third party that Lancaster contracts with to handle the backoffice work related to managing our Municipal Aggregation program.

Harvard recently announced it's own two-year contract:  members of their aggregation program will get a supply rate of 14.841 cents/kWh for two years, beginning this month.   100% of that supply will be from renewable sources.  (Harvard also contracts with Colonial Power.)

The last discussion of the Municipal Aggregation Program at a Select Board Meeting was on February 27th, when a rep from Colonial Power visited.

  

The Select Board should offer some public explanation for the less desirable contract the town has committed.  Lancaster has lagged Harvard for several years now on rates, despite Harvard's commitment to energy from 100% renewable sources.   The Aggregation program will now offer a slight discount over National Grid's default supplier rate (18.213 cents/kWh) through the spring at least.

The state runs a rate comparison website if you'd like to try your hand at picking your own supplier: energyswitchma.gov

At the moment it's relatively easy to find a superior one or two-year contract: I see 13.89 cents/kWh for one year or even 14.99 for two years with 100% renewable energy.