Timeline for Belchertown’s program development and approval process followed all steps required by State statute, including local authorization, public review, and approval by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. Follow the program’s progress with the table below.
June 12, 2021: Town Meeting voted to authorize the Town to investigate and develop a Community Electricity program (see here). The Town selected Good Energy, L.P. as the consultant to assist in developing and managing the Program.
October to November 2022: The Town developed a draft Aggregation Plan including the program’s goals, organization, and operation. The plan was released for public review in late October, including a public hearing on November 28, 2022.
November 2022: The Town consulted with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources to receive the required consultation letter.
November 28, 2022: The Belchertown Select Board voted to approve the plan, which included all comments received during the public review period.
December 5, 2022: Following approval by the Select Board and consultation with Department of Energy Resources, the Town submitted the Aggregation Plan to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) for approval. It is docketed as #22-158.
December 28, 2023: DPU signaled that Belchertown’s petition to initiate a municipal aggregation was approved preliminarily, pending a compliance filing. Once Belchertown’s compliance filing document was submitted to the satisfaction of the agency’s requirements, Belchertown began its public procurement process to select and sign a contract with an electricity supplier.
January 29, 2024: Belchertown’s compliance filing received a stamp of approval from the Department of Public Utilities signaling full approval of the Program. The Belchertown then began its public procurement process to select and sign a contract with an electricity supplier for Belchertown Community Energy Choice. During this process, the details for the Program were finalized, including the amount of renewable energy included and the price for the Belchertown Standard product, as well as the other optional electricity products offered.
After selection of an electricity supplier, Belchertown implemented an extensive education and outreach campaign to make residents and businesses aware of the program launch and their choice to participate in the Program or leave before it started (opt out). Participants can also opt out any time after the Program has begun without penalty or fee of any kind.
April 24, 2024: The Town held a public information meeting for Belchertown’s Community Energy Choice Program. View a copy of the presentation here or watch a recording here.
June 2024: Belchertown Community Electricity launch.