Gloucester Finalizes New Community Electricity Aggregation (CEA) Program

GLOUCESTER –The City is pleased to announce the launch of its Community Electricity Aggregation (CEA) program,designed to provide an opportunity to reduce and stabilize the cost of electricity for residents and businesses, and to promote the utilization of locally generated renewable energy. By purchasing bulk electricity from an alternative supplier, the City is able to provide a more cost-effective, stable, and responsible alternative to utility electricity rates for participating consumers.Gloucester’s CEA program is the result of a multi-year collaborative effort, which has been carefully considered. Gloucester and more than 60 other Massachusetts municipalities are taking advantage of state enabled aggregation programs.

“This is an exciting opportunity to provide savings and predictability to Gloucester residents, while advancing our Gloucester Green community goals. I hope residents will take advantage of this important program,” said Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken.

Effective as of December 2018, the City has committed to purchasing aggregated electricity for a period of 36 months. The negotiated rate of $0.11085 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) is 20% less expensive than National Grid’s released winter rates ($0.13718 per kWh). Moreover, this rate incorporates 5% more renewable energy than required by state law. Residents and business owners also have the option to purchase 100% of their powerfrom renewable energy generated within Gloucester’s City boundaries. Although individuals may opt-out from the program at any time, all National Grid customers will automatically be enrolled in the program, excluding those that are already engaged with alternative suppliers. Even though the City’s energy will be purchased through an alternative supplier, billing and infrastructure maintenance will remain with National Grid.

Residents and business owners will receive program details via mail, as well as instructions on how to opt-out of the programshould the recipient not wish to participate. Over the next few weeks, representatives from Good Energy LP will present the program at meetings and other events on behalf of the City. Please visit the program’s official webpage (https://gloucester-cea.com/), for more information. If you have further questions, please contact Good Energy LP at (866) 456-8232, or Direct Energy at (866) 968-8065.