Aggregation Plan Public Review

The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities has issued a Notice of Filing and Public Hearing to hear the petition of the Town of Ashland on its amended Municipal Aggregation Plan - 2/3/2021

Ashland proposes to amend its municipal aggregation plan to add one or more optional opt-in electricity supply products that may include more Renewable Energy Certificates (“RECs”) than are required to meet the minimum Massachusetts Renewable Portfolio Standard (“RPS”) obligation. Ashland also proposes a number of amendments to its municipal aggregation plan to bring it into compliance with current Department directives.

Click here to view the Notice of Filing and Public Hearing.

Ashland Officials Have Released the Town’s Revised Community Choice Power Supply Program Aggregation Plan

This posting of the Town’s amended Aggregation Plan is the first step in a local and state approval process that will ultimately allow the Town to offer its residents and small business an additional product selection on its next aggregation contract as opposed to only the one choice that’s currently available. 

On October 28, 2015, the Town of Ashland filed with the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) a petition for approval of its Aggregation Plan pursuant to M.G.L. c. 164, § 134. The DPU docketed the Town’s original petition as D.P.U. 15-86. On December 29, 2015, the DPU issued an Order approving the Town’s Aggregation Plan, concluding that it was consistent with the requirements established in M.G.L. c. 164, § 134. Under the Town’s existing Aggregation Plan, the Town has established a Community Choice Power Supply Program in which the Town aggregates the load of electric consumers located within the Town’s borders in order to procure competitive supply of electricity for Program participants. Eligible consumers are automatically enrolled in the Program unless they choose to opt-out. The Town retained Colonial Power Group, Inc. (CPG) as a consultant to assist in the design, implementation, and administration of the Plan and Program.

The Town of Ashland’s revised Aggregation Plan remains consistent with the requirements of M.G.L. c. 164, § 134. The revised Plan addresses the required provisions for organizational structure, operations, funding, activating and terminating the Plan, methods for entering and terminating agreements, rate setting and other costs to participants, universal access, equitable treatment of ratepayers, reliability, and rights and responsibilities of participants. The revised Plan, similar to other Community Choice Power Supply Programs administered by CPG, incorporates several innovative features that best address these requirements in the context of the objectives of the Town. Pursuant to the DPU’s Order in D.P.U. 14-100, City of Lowell’s Revised Municipal Aggregation Plan (March 2, 2015), the Town has distributed the revised Plan for public review prior to submitting it to the DPU.

Basic Service rates change twice a year or more, depending on rate class. As a result, the aggregation rate may not always be lower than the Basic Service rate. The goal of the aggregation is to deliver savings over the life of the Program against Eversource Basic Service. However, such savings and future savings cannot be guaranteed.

Any questions pertaining to this should be directed to Frank Nakashian, Sustainability Coordinator at fnakashian@ashlandmass.com (508) 532-7931. For main inquiries: Frank Nakashian 101 Main Street Ashland, MA 01721. 

Click here to read the Town of Ashland’s Aggregation Plan.