Recently, Eversource filed its proposed new Residential Basic Service rate ($0.17251/kWh) and its Small Business rate ($0.17.587/kWh) with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. These rates will be effective January 1, 2024 until July 31, 2024. As the City moves into the winter months, electricity usage is expected to rise. The City of Boston cannot guarantee that the BCCE rates will remain lower than Eversource’s Basic Service rates after July 31, 2024, because the local utilities change their rates twice a year. You can find more information about basic service prices here.
Some Boston residents and businesses are enrolled in contracts with third-party suppliers, whose rates can be significantly higher than BCCE. Competitive electric suppliers often mislead and take advantage of residents, particularly seniors, people of color, and residents who speak a language other than English, promising them unreliable savings. According to a report from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, third-party suppliers charged Massachusetts residents $525 million more than the general utility would have between 2015 and 2021. The Attorney General’s Office also reported that these suppliers continue to target low-income residents and communities of color, charging them higher rates for their electricity. The report found that residents in Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan, East Boston, Hyde Park, and Roslindale were heavily targeted, with more than 40% of low-income residents in these neighborhoods signing competitive electric supply contracts. In Roxbury, 57% of low-income residents are enrolled in third-party supply. As a part of Mayor Wu’s 2023-2024 State legislative agenda, she supported proposals to ban residential predatory competitive electric supply companies (bills H.3196 and S.2106). Boston residents and business owners can compare electricity rates here. Technical support is available from City of Boston experts by scheduling an appointment, emailing bcce@boston.gov, or calling 3-1-1.
“At a time when many Bostonians are making difficult choices about paying for food or fuel, utilities or rent, the City of Boston has a program to help residents reduce electricity costs while supporting the health of our planet,” said Reverend Mariama White-Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Space. “I am grateful to Mayor Wu for her commitment to supporting Boston residents and small businesses through this program and to our team in the Environment Department who have been steadfast in their efforts to ensure affordable energy prices, especially to those who are being targeted by predatory energy companies.”
The Standard BCCE rate is the default option for Boston residents and business owners. Customers may choose to “opt up” to enroll in the Optional Green 100 rate, with 100% of electricity coming from local, renewable energy sources, like solar or wind. By opting up, customers can support the City of Boston in reducing carbon emissions, improving local air quality, and taking climate action within our communities. Boston Community Choice Electricity’s Optional Green 100 plan costs less than Eversource’s basic residential rate while utilizing 100% renewable electricity compared to Eversource’s 22%, the state requirement for renewable electricity. Residents and business owners can opt-up, down, or out of BCCE at any time with no penalties. |
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