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The power of our community

Important program news:

The City of Salem is adjusting Salem PowerChoice to reflect changing renewable energy market conditions. For calendar years 2025 and 2026, participants in the program’s Standard option will no longer receive an additional 20% of their electricity from New England-based renewable energy sources, over and above minimum state requirements. The funds collected for the extra renewables will instead be used to reduce the impact of anticipated price increases that are expected at the end of the year. Learn more about this decision.

This change is being made to reflect the reality that, under the current federal administration, the purchase of additional electricity from renewable sources no longer leads to the development of new renewable energy projects. The City remains deeply committed to our NetZero emissions climate action goals, and will continue to monitor the market and look to new, more effective ways to support greening our local grid through the Salem PowerChoice program.

Check back soon for the official announcement from the City of Salem.

Salem PowerChoice is a group electricity buying program for Salem residents and businesses. Using the purchasing power of our community, the program provides:

  • Stable and consistent pricing until December 2026
  • Consumer protections, including the ability to leave at any time with no fee or penalty

More than 200 other Massachusetts communities have similar programs.

Program benefits

Two consumer-friendly options

Salem PowerChoice offers two options for the electricity supply price on your National Grid bill. As a new participant, you will be automatically enrolled in Basic, which is the lowest price in the program. Plus provides 100% of your electricity from renewable sources and is available by request. Make the choice that is right for you!

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

Salem PowerChoice offers long-term prices, while National Grid’s prices change seasonally. Use the price calculator to compare Salem PowerChoice prices with National Grid’s average prices.

Please note: Salem PowerChoice originally offered a Standard option, which provided an additional 20% from regional renewable sources. The Standard option no longer includes additional renewable energy beyond the minimum required by state law and is no longer accepting new enrollments. Learn more about this decision.

No interruption in service 

Through Salem PowerChoice, the City has selected First Point Power as our electricity supplier (the company that puts electricity on the grid for us) and locked in long-term pricing for the electricity supply price on our bills. But National Grid remains Salem’s electric utility and continues to handle our billing, address power outages, and deliver our electricity with no interruption.

Learn how Salem Power Choice works.

 

National Grid remains responsible for…

Delivering your electricity
National Grid continues to deliver your electricity with no interruption (and they are 100% OK with your participation in Salem PowerChoice).
Sending your electric bill
Your electric bill continues to come from National Grid, and this is the only electric bill you receive as a participant in Salem PowerChoice.
Accepting your electric bill payment
You continue to pay National Grid using whatever existing arrangement you have.
Addressing power outages
Call National Grid if your power goes out, as you do now.
Providing a low-income discount or fuel assistance
If you are eligible for these benefits, you continue to receive them with no change.
Providing bill credits or incentive payments from solar panels
You continue to receive your credits or payments, and participating in Salem PowerChoice does not impact their calculation.
Applying bill credits from community solar to your bill
You continue to receive bill credits, and participating in Salem PowerChoice does not change their calculation.
Applying the Budget Plan to your bill
If you have National Grid's Budget Plan, it continues to apply to your total bill.

Most new accounts are eligible for automatic enrollment

Have National Grid’s Basic Service? 

New accounts on National Grid’s Basic Service are eligible for automatic enrollment. (If you did not sign a private electricity supply contract, you have National Grid’s Basic Service.) The automatic enrollment process happens on a roughly quarterly basis throughout the year. All similar programs throughout the state use an automatic enrollment model, but you are free to opt out before being automatically enrolled. You will receive a notice in the mail from the City of Salem in advance. See the most recent notice of automatic enrollment.

 

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 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, Salem PowerChoice will be integrated into your existing National Grid electric bill. Your supplier will appear as Salem PowerChoice – First Point Power. But you will not see any additional charges on your bill or receive any additional electric bills because of participating in the program. 

See an example bill

Will you save money?

Maybe! According to a report by UMass Amherst, the majority of communities with aggregation programs like Salem PowerChoice do see some savings compared with their utility’s Basic Service prices. But Salem cannot guarantee that program prices will always be lower than National Grid because National Grid’s prices change seasonally, and we do not know their future prices. 

Learn more

How it works
Participating
Change your option
Program notifications & documents
Price calculator
Renewable energy

Protect your National Grid account number

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