Prices for all program options in the Belchertown Community Energy Choice Program include a $0.001/kWh administration fee. Program prices could increase as a result of a change in law that results in a direct, material increase in costs during the term of the electricity supply agreement. Program prices apply only to the electricity supply portion of your National Grid electric bill. Delivery charges on your National Grid electric bill are not affected by the Belchertown Program.
Future savings against National Grid’s fixed Basic Service rate cannot be guaranteed because National Grid’s rates change every six months for residential and commercial customers and every three months for industrial customers. For National Grid Commercial and Industrial Basic Service rates, please review the National Grid supply rates page.
If you participate in Belchertown’s Program, you will be automatically enrolled at a new price at the end of the contract term, unless you inform the Town otherwise. The new price may be higher or lower than the existing price and the voluntary renewable energy content may change. The Town will contact you no later than 30 days before each automatic renewal to notify you of your supply options.
Renewable Energy Content
Product Details
| Year | Required MA Class I | Required Other Renewables | Voluntary Renewables added by Belchertown Community Energy Choice | Total Renewables | |
| Belchertown Basic | 2024 | 24% | 38% | – | 62% |
| 2025 | 27% | 36% | – | 63% | |
| 2026 | 30% | 39% | – | 69% | |
| 2027 | 33% | 42% | – | 75% | |
|
Belchertown Standard (automatic) |
2024 | 24% | 38% | 10% | 72% |
| 2025 | 27% | 36% | 10% | 73% | |
| 2026 | 30% | 39% | 10% | 79% | |
| 2027 | 33% | 42% | 10% | 85% | |
| Belchertown 100 | 2024 | 24% | 38% | 38% | 100% |
| 2025 | 27% | 36% | 37% | 100% | |
| 2026 | 30% | 39% | 31% | 100% | |
| 2027 | 33% | 42% | 25% | 100% | |
|
National Grid Basic Service if you opt out |
2024 | 24% | 38% | – | 62% |
| 2025 | 27% | 36% | – | 63% | |
| 2026 | 30% | 39% | – | 69% | |
| 2027 | 33% | 42% | – | 75% |
The Belchertown Community Energy Choice Program presents a unique opportunity for the Town to influence the development of renewable energy resources by going above and beyond requirements in Massachusetts, i.e., voluntarily purchasing additional renewable energy. See the State’s renewable energy requirements.
In Belchertown Community Energy Choice, all purchases of renewable electricity will be certified by purchasing and retiring Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), the accepted legal instrument used to track renewable energy generation and to substantiate claims of renewable energy use. Read further to learn more about why we need RECs.
Sourcing the Additional Renewable Energy
On Our Grid
All of the additional renewable energy in the Belchertown Community Energy Choice Program will come from sources designated as MA Class I. These sources must be physically part of the New England electricity grid. This stands in contrast to some electricity supplies that obtain their renewable energy from national sources (e.g., Texas) that are not physically connected to our New England electricity grid. While those sources provide very cheap electricity, you get what you pay for – including them in the electricity mix does not move our region away from fossil fuels.
MA Class I is the State of Massachusetts’ term for new, local renewable energy. Renewable energy can come from the sources shown in the figure below and must meet the following requirements listed below.
- Have started operation after 1997
- Be located within New England, New York, or Eastern Canada
2022 Sources of MA Class I for RPS Compliance
Helping Expand Renewable Energy
Massachusetts requires all energy suppliers to include a minimum amount of MA Class I renewable energy. That amount increases annually. This policy, called the Renewable Portfolio Standard, provides growing demand for renewable energy and, as a result, has been the primary driver of renewable energy growth in our region.
By purchasing a significant quantity of extra MA Class I renewable energy, Belchertown will increase demand further and incentivize even more renewable energy generation development in New England.
Recent estimates suggest that fully 10% of renewable energy purchased in the MA Class I REC market will soon be purchased voluntarily by municipal aggregations that are going above and beyond state requirements, like Belchertown.
What Are RECs and Why We Need Them
When electricity generated by renewable sources – such as solar and wind – is put onto our regional electricity grid, it is mixed in and becomes indistinguishable from the other electricity on the grid. It is not possible to physically separate renewable electricity from the grid mix for your consumption.
As a result, a tracking system, called Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), has been created to enable the purchase and use of renewable electricity. For every one megawatt-hour of renewable electricity generated, one REC is created. To use renewable electricity, one must purchase a quantity of RECs equal to the amount of electricity purchased from the grid. Once used, a REC is retired so that no one else can purchase that same REC or claim to use it.