The power of our communities

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

  • More electricity from renewable sources
  • Three electricity choices
  • Stable and consistent pricing

Valley Green Energy launched in November 2024. More than 200 other Massachusetts communities have similar programs.

Read the official announcements from Amherst, Northampton, and Pelham.

Watch the video of the 9/26 public information session.

Program benefits

Three consumer-friendly options

Valley Green Energy offers three options for the electricity supply price on your electric bill. As a new participant, you will be automatically enrolled in VGE Standard Green and receive an additional 10% of your energy from clean, renewable sources. VGE 100% Green and VGE Basic are available by request. Make the choice that is right for you!

Graphic showing three options, their renewable energy content, and their prices.

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 First Point Power 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.

Diagram describing how Valley Green Energy 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.
National Grid's Budget Plan*
National Grid's Budget Plan continues to apply to your entire bill.

* Customers with Eversource’s Budget Billing will see a change. If you are an Eversource Budget Billing customer, Budget Billing will continue to apply to the Delivery charge on your electric bill, but it will no longer apply to your Supply charge.

Most 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 have 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 large commercial accounts. Learn more.

Learn more

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

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 First Point-Valley Green Energy. 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 two of the Valley Green Energy prices are currently lower than both Eversource’s and National Grid’s residential Basic Service prices, there is no guarantee of future savings. This is because Eversource’s and National Grid’s prices change and future prices are unknown.

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.