Program implementation process

Implementing a municipal electricity aggregation program like Weston Power Choice is a regulated process that is overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU). The implementation process can take as long as a year to complete because this is how long it usually takes the DOER and the DPU to approve a Town’s implementation plan for the program. Key steps include:

Town Meeting vote: Weston must vote publicly to pursue aggregation.

  • The Weston Town Meeting vote occurred on December 3, 2019.

Regulatory review: Weston submitted an aggregation plan document to the Massachusetts DOER for review and then to the Massachusetts DPU for approval. This document is a broad template that demonstrates how Weston will meet regulatory requirements. This process typically takes many months.

  • Weston’s plan was reviewed by the Massachusetts DOER on August 13, 2020.
  • Weston’s plan was submitted to the Massachusetts DPU on October 29, 2020. The DPU held a hearing to accept public comments on the plan on February 24, 2021.
  • Weston’s plan received approval from the Massachusetts DPU on December 27, 2023.

Choosing an electricity supplier and signing an electricity supply contract: Once the State regulatory review process was complete and the aggregation plan had received formal approval by the state, Weston implemented a public procurement process to select and sign a contract with an electricity supplier.

  • Weston signed a 30-month electricity supply contract with First Point Power on February 21, 2024.

Public engagement and education: After the electricity supply contract was signed, Weston conducted an intensified public engagement effort to inform the community about program details and the ability to opt out. This effort included mailing a letter to each electricity account holder who will be automatically enrolled in the program if they do not opt out, as well as public information sessions.

  • Coming-soon postcard mailing date: March 22, 2024.
  • Opt-Out Notice mailing date: March 29, 2024.

Program launch: At the conclusion of that effort, the program launched.

  • The program launched with June 2024 meter reads.