Program implementation process

Municipal electricity aggregation was enabled by the Massachusetts Restructuring Act of 1997 (Chapter 164, Section 134) and is regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU).

The implementation process includes a regulatory review and approval process that typically requires several months. The list below includes key milestones in the program implementation process.

1. Public vote

Worcester had to vote publicly to pursue aggregation.

  • The City Council authorized the pursuit of aggregation on June 20, 2017.

2. Public review and comment

To obtain the regulatory approval needed to launch the Green Worcester ElectriCITY Municipal Aggregation Program, the City first created a draft Aggregation Plan and made it and other aggregation documents available for public review and comment.

The Aggregation Plan is a high-level authorization document that lays out the program structure and demonstrates how Worcester will meet regulatory requirements.

  • Worcester’s Aggregation Plan was presented to the public on February 20, 2019, and made available for a public review and comment period.

3. Regulatory review and approval

Worcester submitted its Aggregation Plan to the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) for review and then to the DPU for approval.

  • Worcester’s Aggregation Plan was reviewed by the DOER on March 12, 2019.
  • Worcester’s Aggregation Plan was submitted to the DPU for review and approval on March 15, 2019. A public hearing occurred as part of that process on May 6, 2019. 
  • Worcester’s Aggregation Plan received DPU approval on September 30, 2019.

4. Signing an electricity supply contract

Once the regulatory review process was complete and Worcester’s Aggregation Plan received approval from the DPU, Worcester implemented a competitive procurement process to select and sign a contract with an electricity supplier.

  • Worcester signed a 34-month contract with Direct Energy on October 22, 2019. The contract term was from February 2020 meter reads until December 2022 meter reads.

5. Public notification and education

In fall of 2019, once the electricity supply contract had been signed, the City conducted a 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 on National Grid’s Basic Service who would be automatically enrolled in the program if they did not opt out. The public engagement effort also included a press release, public information sessions, and outreach to community groups throughout the city.

6. Program launch

In February 2020, the program launched, and electricity accounts were enrolled as of the February 2020 meter reads. Worcester electricity customers first saw Worcester’s price on their March 2020 National Grid electric bills.

7. Program operation

Now that the program is up and running, new electricity accounts in Worcester will be eligible for automatic enrollment on a roughly quarterly basis throughout the year. (Automatic enrollment is state law.) Learn more about participating.