Rockland renews bulk electricity purchase plans, increases renewable energy rate

ROCKLAND – The town will continue to buy electricity in bulk and pass the savings on to consumers.

Rockland joined the state's municipal aggregation program in 2019 and recently agreed to continue with it for three more years.

Municipal aggregation plans, around since 1997, allow cities and towns to use their bulk buying power to negotiate lower electricity rates with a supplier.

Rockland is one of 160 Massachusetts cities and towns enrolled in the state program. Rockland's supplier is Dynegy, based in Houston.

Plymouth, Pembroke and Halifax also have bulk buying plans with Dynegy.

Cohasset approved its plan in 2020 and Milton's supply contract started in September with NextEra Energy Services.

Kingston uses Constellation NewEnergy Inc., and West Bridgewater uses Direct Energy.

Quincy has been moving forward with its own plans, while Stoughton, Sharon and Canton are implementing plans.

How does municipal aggregation work?

Residents who don't want to be part of the program need to opt out of it and can get electricity from National Grid.

Under the current estimated rates, and based on an average household using 893 kilowatt hours per month, the opt-out plan would cost the most, $132 a month. The 100% renewable energy plan would cost $128 a month, the 10% above state renewable energy standards plan would cost $100 and the basic plan that meets state renewable energy standards would cost $97.

In April, the Rockland Board of Selectmen voted to increase the extra amount of renewable energy in the middle tier from 5% to 10%.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here's our latest offer.

Reach reporter Wheeler Cowperthwaite at wcowperthwaite@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Rockland renews bulk power purchasing plan until 2024