Valley Green Energy

The power of our communities

Important program news: Valley Green Energy prices will change in November as the current electricity supply contract ends and a new, 24-month contract goes into effect.

While electricity supply prices have increased since the program launched in 2024, most program participants will continue to save compared with their utility’s residential electricity supply price, and all participants will enjoy stable prices through November 2028.

No action is required for currently active participants. The price change will occur automatically in November, and it will be reflected on December electricity bills.

See the new prices.
Check back soon for the official announcements from Amherst, Northampton, and Pelham.

Valley Green Energy is a group electricity buying program for Amherst, Northampton, and Pelham residents and businesses. Using the purchasing power of the three communities, the program provides:

  • Stable and consistent pricing
  • The potential for savings, though savings cannot be guaranteed
  • The freedom to leave at any time with no fee or penalty

Valley Green Energy launched in November 2024. More than 200 other Massachusetts communities have similar programs, known as municipal electricity aggregations.

Program benefits

Consumer-friendly options

Valley Green Energy offers two options for the electricity supply price on your electric bill. As a new participant, you will be automatically enrolled in VGE Basic. VGE 100% Green provides 100% of your electricity from renewable sources and is available by request. Pricing is determined by where you live. Make the choice that is right for you!

Amherst and Pelham

VGE Basic: 15.830 cents per kilowatt hour. VGE 100% Green: 18.330 cents per kilowatt hour. Eversource residential: 15.934 cents per kilowatt hour.

Northampton

VGE Basic. 16.290 cents per kilowatt hour. VGE 100% Green. 18.790 cents per kilowatt hour. National Grid residential: 17.185 cents per kilowatt hour.

Learn more about program options and prices. Need help deciding? Contact customer support.

Valley Green Energy offers long-term prices, while utility prices change seasonally. Use the price calculator to compare Valley Green Energy prices with your utility’s average prices.

No interruption in service 

Through Valley Green Energy, the communities of Amherst, Northampton, and Pelham have selected Direct Energy as their electricity supplier (the company that puts electricity on the grid for you) and locked in long-term pricing for the electricity supply price on your electric bill.

But your utility (Eversource or National Grid) remains unchanged and will continue to handle your billing, address power outages, and deliver your electricity with no interruption. Learn more about how aggregation works.

What does not change

Who delivers your electricity
Your utility (Eversource or National Grid) continues to deliver your electricity with no interruption (and they are 100% OK with your participation in Valley Green Energy).
Who sends your electric bill
Your electric bill continues to come from your electric utility (Eversource or National Grid), and this is the only electric bill you receive as a participant in Valley Green Energy.
Who you call if you lose power
Call your utility (Eversource or National Grid) as you do now.
Who and how you pay
You continue to pay your electric utility using whatever existing arrangement you have.
Low-income discount or fuel assistance
If you are eligible for these benefits, you continue to receive them with no change.
Bill credits or incentive payments from solar panels
You continue to receive your credits or payments, and participating in Valley Green Energy does not impact how they are calculated.
Bill credits from community solar
You continue to receive bill credits, and participating in Valley Green Energy does not change how they are calculated.
Eversource's Budget Billing and National Grid's Budget Plan
If you have Eversource's Budget Billing or National Grid's Budget Plan, it continues to apply to your entire bill.

Most new accounts are eligible for automatic enrollment

Have your utility’s Basic Service? 

If you did not sign a private electricity supply contract, you have your utility’s Basic Service. All accounts on Basic Service (except those with a customer-initiated block) are eligible for automatic enrollment in Valley Green Energy. You will receive a notification in the mail from your City or Town in advance. All similar programs throughout the state use an automatic enrollment model, but you are free to opt out before being automatically enrolled. See the automatic enrollment notification.

Have a private electricity supply contract?

If you signed a private electricity supply contract, your account will not be eligible for automatic enrollment, but you can request enrollment online or by contacting customer support with our program consultants. (Restrictions apply for industrial and large business accounts.) We recommend that you carefully check the terms and conditions of your supplier agreement. Your ability to terminate your agreement with your supplier may be restricted.

Make sure you’re enrolled

If you are enrolled, Valley Green Energy will be integrated into your existing Eversource or National Grid electric bill. Your supplier will appear as Direct Energy – Valley Green. But you will not see any additional charges on your bill or receive any additional electric bills because of participating in the program. 

Eversource example bill

National Grid example bill

Savings cannot be guaranteed

Please note that, while Valley Green Energy offers the potential for savings when compared with Eversource’s and National Grid’s Basic Service prices, there is no guarantee of savings. This is because the utilities’ Basic Service prices change seasonally, and future Basic Service prices are unknown.

Learn more

How it works
Participating
Change your option
Program notifications & documents
Price calculator
Implementation process

Protect your electricity account number

Eversource and National Grid will never knock on your door or call you to talk about your electric bill.
Only provide your electricity account number if you are ready to change your electricity supplier.