Haverhill residents who missed out on a discounted energy rate when the local bulk purchasing program filled last fall now have another chance.
Although Haverhill’s Community Choice Power Supply Program pulled the plug on new enrollments at the end of September, the city’s provider is now enrolling households with terms about a third lower than National Grid’s standard rate. Mayor James J. Fiorentini negotiated with Newark, N.J.-based Residents Energy to offer a rate of about 18 cents per kilowatt hour rather than National Grid’s basic rate of about 34 cents. The rate applies to energy costs only and not so-called delivery charges from the utility. Last fall, Fiorentini gave an overview of how the program works.
“An Energy Aggregation Plan is: we put all of the residential electric consumers into a bucket, then go out to bid and says if we bundle all of them together, could we get a lower electric rate?” he explained.
The original discounted rate was 11 cents per kilowatt hour.
As WHAV reported at the time, Fiorentini and Energy Consultant Orlando Pacheco said residents who do not see the provider’s name on their National Grid bills may “opt-in” at colonialpowergroup.com/Haverhill. Pacheco explained, “On page two of your electric bill, there will be a section that says Other Supplier Services. If it says Residents Energy Haverhill Aggregation, you are in the program.”
Haverhill’s Community Choice Power Supply Program will hold the 18-cent rate through this October, but National Grid’s rate changes this May 2023. Officials advised Haverhill residents to compare rates to determine if staying in the program is still beneficial.