Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question about the program and how it will impact you? See below for a list of frequently asked questions and answers. Also, check out the links in the Learn More box to the right.

If you still don’t see what you’re looking for, please feel free to contact Swampscott’s program consultants for customer support.

General program information

What is the Swampscott Community Power program?

The Swampscott Community Power Program is a municipal electricity aggregation, a form of group electricity purchasing.

Typically, your electric utility, National Grid, provides two sets of services to you:

  1. They deliver your electricity (Massachusetts electric utilities are electricity delivery companies only). Delivery services appear on your National Grid electricity bill as delivery charges.
  2. They also supply your electricity, which means they buy electricity for you and pass the cost along to you. The cost of the electricity they buy for you appears on your National Grid electricity bill as supplier services charges.

But in Massachusetts, there are actually three ways to purchase your electricity:

  • Your utility, National Grid, can do it for you, as just described. This is called Basic Service, and this is how most people buy their electricity.
  • You can sign a contract with an electricity supplier yourself. You may have received offers in the mail or over the phone.
  • Your municipal government can sign a contract with an electricity supplier on your behalf. This third option is municipal electricity aggregation, and this is what the Swampscott Community Power Program is. Swampscott has signed a contract with NextEra Energy Services.
What is a municipal electricity aggregation?

A municipal electricity aggregation, such as the Swampscott Community Power program, is a group purchasing program for electricity.

In an aggregation, the Town uses the bulk purchasing power of the entire community to select an electricity supplier and to negotiate both the amount of renewable energy that is purchased on behalf of the community as well as the price.

If you participate in Swampscott Community Power, National Grid will deliver your electricity, but the electricity supplier chosen by the Town will appear on your National Grid bill as your electricity supplier. Also, the Swampscott Community Power price will be used to calculate the supplier services charges on your National Grid electricity bill instead of National Grid’s Basic Service price.

Swampscott Community Power provides an alternative both to Eversource’s Basic Service pricing and to other electricity supply offers in the marketplace.

How do I benefit from the program?

The program offers a few key benefits:

Cleaner electricity: As a new participant in Swampscott Community Power, you will automatically receive all of your electricity from renewable sources like the sun and the wind instead of from burning fossil fuels, unless you choose a different option.

Stable prices: Swampscott Community Power offers long-term, fixed prices. This makes the program different from many electricity offers in the market, which may offer a low introductory price that then rises later. It is also different from National Grid’s Basic Service pricing, which changes every 6 months or less and can be especially high during winter months. Participating in Swampscott Community Power can insulate you from those high winter price swings.

Consumer protections: Swampscott Community Power has been designed to be consumer friendly with protections in place for Swampscott residents and businesses. For example, you are free leave the program at any time with no fee or penalty.

Who do I call when the power goes out?

Call National Grid if your power goes out as usual. National Grid will continue to deliver your electricity and maintain the poles and wires.

Someone came to my door/called me about an electricity program. Is that the Town program or National Grid?
No. Neither Swampscott nor National Grid will knock on doors or make individual sales phone calls. 

If you receive a call, here are three things to keep in mind:

  • The company you are speaking with is not associated with Swampscott’s Community Power program or National Grid.
  • You should treat your National Grid account number like you treat your credit card information. Do not give it out unless you want to purchase your electricity from someone else.
  • You do have the right to select an electricity supplier of your choice. If you choose to explore this option, please check the terms of the agreement carefully. Things to check for include: minimum bill amounts, contract length requirements, early termination fees, low introductory rates that change after the introductory period ends, and rates that vary.
My account is tax exempt with National Grid. How do I maintain my tax-exempt status within the Swampscott Community Power program?

Tax-exempt accounts that wish to maintain their tax-exempt status in the Swampscott Community Power program must submit tax-exemption documentation to the program’s electricity supplier.

This means that tax-exemption documentation must be submitted each time the program’s electricity supplier changes.

The program’s electricity supplier is required by the State of Massachusetts to have valid tax-exemption documentation on hand for all tax-exempt accounts.

You may have submitted tax-exemption documentation to National Grid already, but National Grid does not share this documentation with the program’s electricity supplier. It is the customer’s responsibility to submit this documentation.

Get information on where to send your tax-exemption documentation.

How long will the program last?

Swampscott’s contract with NextEra Energy Services went into effect in November 2021 and will remain in effect until November 2024 meter reads.

When the contract with NextEra Energy Services ends, Swampscott can then establish a contract with a new electricity supplier or end the program and return participants to National Grid’s Basic Service. If Swampscott does establish a contract with a new electricity supplier, the Town will announce the new price, and program participants will remain enrolled under the new contract.

How do I know if I'm enrolled in the program and which option I have?

Your National Grid bill can tell you whether you are enrolled and in which option you are enrolled.

See an example National Grid bill.

Electricity supply & electricity suppliers

I signed my own contract with an electricity supplier. Will I be automatically enrolled?

No. However, you are welcome to participate. If you would like to participate, we recommend that you first check the terms of your existing electricity supply contract. Many include minimum enrollment periods and early termination fees.

If you decide you would like to enroll, you can enroll online or by calling customer support with the Town’s program consultants at 1-844-483-5004.

What is electricity supply?

Electricity service has two parts: supply and delivery. Supply refers to the electricity itself. Delivery is the process of bringing that electricity to you over the wires.

With National Grid Basic Service, National Grid chooses your electricity supplier and delivers the electricity to you. With Swampscott Community Power, National Grid will continue to deliver your electricity, but Swampscott chooses its own supplier.

Who is the current electricity supplier?

NextEra Energy Services is the electricity supplier for Swampscott Community Power from November 2021 until November 2024.

What is an electricity supplier?

An electricity supplier is NOT your utility. An electricity supplier is a company licensed by the Department of Public Utilities to purchase electricity and related services from the wholesale electricity markets for resale to retail customers. Typically, a residential customer who buys electricity from a competitive supplier will see the charge as a line item on their electric utility bill.

What is the difference between National Grid and an electricity supplier?

National Grid is Swampscott’s electric utility. They are your electricity delivery company. That means National Grid is responsible for delivering electricity to you, for maintaining the poles and wires, and for addressing power outages. National Grid charges you for these services on the delivery services portion of your electricity bill.

An electricity supplier is a company that buys electricity for you from electricity generators or from electricity brokers. When you have National Grid’s Basic Service, National Grid is also your electricity supplier, meaning they are buying your electricity in addition to delivering it. National Grid does not generate electricity.

  • For most electricity customers, their utility is also their electricity supplier. When they are your supplier (i.e., when you are on National Grid’s Basic Service), your electricity bill will indicate that is the case.
  • You may also choose your own electricity supplier. If you do, the name of that company will appear on your National Grid bill as your electricity supplier, and the rate you negotiated with them will be used to calculate the supply services charges on your bill.
  • In Swampscott Community Power, the Town chooses an electricity supplier on your behalf. Swampscott has signed a contract with NextEra Energy Services to supply electricity to the Town from November 2021 – November 2024. This means NextEra Energy Services will appear on your National Grid bill as your electricity supplier, and the price the Town has secured from with them will be used to calculate the supply services charges on your bill.

Price, savings, & billing

What will my electricity supply price be?

Your price depends on which program option you participate in. The program offers three options, each with a different price based on the amount of renewable electricity.

See the Options & Pricing page for current program prices.

Are savings compared to National Grid's Basic Service price guaranteed?

No. The Swampscott Community Power price will be fixed from November 2021 until November 2024. However, National Grid’s fixed Basic Service price changes every 6 months for residential and commercial customers, and every 3 months for industrial customers. Future prices are not known. As a result, savings cannot be guaranteed.

I am currently under National Grid budget billing/eligible for the low-income delivery rate. Will this change?

No. If you participate in budget billing or are eligible for any discounts from National Grid, those will be unaffected by your participation in Swampscott Community Power.

Will I receive a second bill?

No. National Grid will continue sending your electricity bill, and this is the only electricity bill you will receive as a participant in Swampscott Community Power.

Where do I see this program on my National Grid bill?

The Swampscott Community Power Program appears on your National Grid electricity bill in two ways:

  1. On the supplier services portion of your National Grid electricity bill, you will see NextEra Energy Srvcs listed as your electricity supplier instead of National Grid.
  2. The price that is used to calculate the supplier services portion of your National Grid bill will be a Swampscott Community Power program price, instead of National Grid’s Basic Service price.

See an example National Grid electricity bill.

Additionally, the amount of renewable energy purchased on your behalf may change, depending on which program option you choose.

Otherwise, you will receive your electricity bill from National Grid, you will pay National Grid, and you will call National Grid if your power goes out.

If you are eligible for any discounts from National Grid, those will be unaffected by your participation in this program.

I have solar panels on my property or I participate in a community solar program. If I join Swampscott Community Power, will I continue to receive the credits or payments that I receive now?

Yes. You will continue to receive solar credits and/or solar incentive payments, and participating in Swampscott Community Power will not change how they are calculated.

What if National Grid's Basic Service price falls below the Swampscott Community Power price?

This is likely to happen during some months. The reason is because the program prices are long-term, fixed prices, but National Grid’s Basic Service prices change every 6 months for residential and commercial accounts and every 3 months for industrial accounts. Future prices are not known. As a result, savings compared with National Grid’s Basic Service price are not guaranteed. However, you are free to opt out of the program and return to Basic Service at any time with no fee or penalty.

This program provides a stable electricity supply price. Why is that important?

Having a stable price for the supply part of your National Grid electricity bill can protect you from the seasonal price increases that occur when you have National Grid’s Basic Service. When National Grid is your electricity supplier, the price that is used to calculate the supply charges on your National Grid bill changes every 6 months for residential and other small customers, and it changes more frequently for larger commercial customers.

Having a stable price for the supply part of your National Grid electricity bill can also provide a predictable alternative to the variable prices offered by some commercial electricity supply offers. Some commercial electricity supply offers will provide a stable price for a few months, but then the price will vary monthly.

The Swampscott Community Power price will remain fixed until November 2024. When the Town signs a new contract and the price changes, the Town will announce the new price publicly before it takes effect.

Participation

Is participation required?

No. You may choose not to participate. This is called opting out. There is no penalty for opting out. You may do so at any time. If you opt out, you will continue with or be returned to National Grid’s Basic Service.

You may opt out online or by calling customer support with the Town’s program consultants at 1-844-483-5004.

Who is eligible to participate?

All metered electricity customers within the geographic boundaries of Swampscott are eligible to participate. All new electricity accounts in Swampscott will be automatically enrolled within a few months of opening. If your account is eligible for automatic enrollment, you will receive an informational letter in the mail from the Town prior to being enrolled that explains the program and your rights within it.

Important note: For any customer who previously opted out of or left Swampscott Community Power and wishes to re-enroll, the program’s electricity supplier is entitled to charge a market price instead of the program price for the remainder of the current electricity supply contract. If the program’s electricity supplier decides to charge market pricing, you will be notified before enrollment and can decide then whether to continue with enrollment or not.

How do I participate in Swampscott Community Power?

New electricity accounts in Swampscott will be automatically enrolled within a few months of opening.

You may alternatively enroll online or by calling customer support with Swampscott’s program consultants at 1-844-483-5004.

Important note: For any customer who previously opted out of or left Swampscott Community Power and wishes to re-enroll, the program’s electricity supplier is entitled to charge a market price instead of the program price for the remainder of the current electricity supply contract. If the program’s electricity supplier decides to charge market pricing, you will be notified before enrollment and can decide then whether to continue with enrollment or not.

What if I am with another electricity supplier, but I want to participate in Swampscott Community Power?

If you have signed an electricity supply contract with another supplier, you are welcome to join the program.

To enroll, you may enroll online or contact customer support with Swampscott’s program consultants at 1-844-483-5004 and ask to join.

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.

Important note: For any customer who previously opted out of or left Swampscott Community Power and wishes to re-enroll, the program’s electricity supplier is entitled to charge a market price instead of the program price for the remainder of the current electricity supply contract. If the program’s electricity supplier decides to charge market pricing, you will be notified before enrollment and can decide then whether to continue with enrollment or not.

How do I choose the New England Green or Basic options?

To choose New England Green or Basic, complete the online form or call customer support with Swampscott’s program consultants at 1-844-483-5004.

What if I don't want to participate in Swampscott Community Power?

You may choose not to participate. This is called opting out. You may opt out at any time. There is no penalty for opting out. If you choose to opt out, you will be returned to National Grid’s Basic Service.

You have three ways to opt out of the program:

1. Sign and return the reply card that you received in the mail, if you received a program notification letter. You must postmark your response within 30 days of the date on the letter in order to be opted out of the program before being enrolled.

2. Call customer support at 1-844-483-5004 and tell them you want to opt out of Swampscott Community Power. You may do this at any time after receiving the program notification letter and/or at any time after participating in the program.

3. Opt out online. You may do this at any time after receiving the program notification letter and/or at any time after participating in the program.

Can I leave, or opt out of, the program and re-enroll?

Yes, however, you may not receive the program price. The program’s electricity supplier is entitled to charge you a market price instead of the program price for the remainder of the current electricity supply contract. If the program’s electricity supplier decides to charge market pricing, you will be notified before enrollment and can decide then whether to continue with enrollment or not.

I have a large commercial account. Am I eligible for program pricing?
Large commercial accounts may be eligible for higher market pricing instead of program pricing when they request initial enrollment in the program. If you are interested in submitting an enrollment request for your large commercial account, please contact customer support.

Renewable electricity

What is renewable electricity and why is it important?

Renewable electricity is generated by sources that can be renewed as opposed to sources that can be used only once, such as fossil fuels. Under Massachusetts state law, a variety of resources qualify as renewable. The main sources of renewable electricity are solar, wind, and small hydroelectric projects.

Burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas to generate energy releases harmful gases into the atmosphere that cause climate change and releases pollution that cause health problem. In addition, mining or extracting fossil fuels causes environmental damage. And once fossil fuels are used up, there is no way to replace them.

Using renewable sources like the sun and the wind to generate electricity releases no harmful gases or pollution into the atmosphere. In addition, the sun and the wind are energy sources that cannot be used up. Renewable electricity is sometimes referred to as green electricity or clean electricity.

 

 

What's the minimum amount of renewable electricity required by state law? Do I receive the state minimum through Swampscott Community Power?

The minimum amount increases every year. For 2024, Massachusetts state law requires that renewable electricity must be purchased from newer renewable energy projects in the New England region (MA Class I RECs) to match 24% of your electricity use.

In addition, state law requires the purchase of a minimum amount of renewable energy from older renewable energy projects in New England, as well as from some other energy sources that are considered highly efficient but not renewable.

For more information, visit the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources page on compliance information for the Renewable Portfolio Standard.

As a participant in Swampscott Community Power, you receive all of your electricity from renewable sources (far above the state minimum) if you participate in the Standard Green or New England Green options. If you participate in the Basic option, you receive just the minimum amount required by state law.

Why should I opt up to New England Green?

New England Green provides all of your electricity from renewable energy projects located in the New England region.

By purchasing your electricity from local renewable energy projects, you create more demand for renewable energy projects in New England. This shows renewable energy developers that there is a strong market in New England and drives them to build more. Choosing New England Green is an investment in making our local power grid cleaner.

 

National Grid

Will I receive a lower quality of service from National Grid if I participate in this program?

No. National Grid’s quality of service to you will be unaffected by your participation in Swampscott Community Power. The reason is because National Grid does not profit from the supply charges on your electric bill. They pass the electricity supply charges along to you with no markup. They make their profit from the distribution charges. As a result, they have no preference whether they are your supplier or Swampscott chooses a supplier for you.

Does this program replace National Grid as my electric utility?

No. National Grid is the electric utility for Swampscott and will continue to deliver your electricity, and your primary relationship for electricity will remain with National Grid.

Swampscott Community Power will change the supplier on your National Grid bill to NextEra Energy Srvcs, and it will change the rate that is used to calculate the supply services charges on your National Grid electricity bill. But your bill will continue to come from National Grid, and National Grid will continue to be your electric utility.