MARLBOROUGH – The city continues to save on electricity.
In a letter sent to the City Council on Dec. 29, Laura Wagner and Michael Ossing, members of the Ad Hoc Municipal Aggregation Committee, announced that residents saved $454,692 in electricity costs during the third quarter.
In the same quarter, the residential, commercial and industrial savings were estimated to be around $1.073 million.
The savings come from the city’s fixed-price contract with Inspire that offers lower rates than National Grid’s fixed basic service rates.
The city’s contact with Inspire is for 100% National Wind Renewable Energy Credits.
The savings will continue through the winter, as the city’s rate of .09390 per kilowatt hour is lower than National Grid’s winter basic service rate of 0.33891 per kilowatt hour.
“This is significant as the city residents will continue to see savings over the National Grid basic service rate,” according to the letter from Ossing and Wagner.
According to a table showing the residential and commercial savings, in the first quarter of 2022, residents were estimated to save $1.1 million followed by $579,919 in the second quarter.
The aggregation program was touted during Mayor Arthur Vigeant’s State of the City Address during early 2022.
“We’re probably one of the greenest communities in the state,” he said at the time.
The city’s contact with Inspire will run through the January 2024 meter reads. After that, the city may see higher rates once a new contract is negotiated.
“The Municipal Aggregation Committee is working with the Colonial Power Group to monitor market conditions and obtain new rates,” according to the letter.
This comes just before officials from National Grid, Eversource and Colonial Power gathered at the Senior Center to share ways to save on their gas and/or electric bills.
Those wishing to take part in the city’s aggregation program may contact Colonial Power at 866-485-5858, ext. 1, or visit colonialpowergroup.com/marlborough.
