New Prices to Take Effect by January 2025 Billing Cycle  

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Office of Sustainability are announcing the renewal of the Somerville Community Choice Electricity (Somerville CCE) program, with new, stable prices from December 2024 through January 2028.  

After a competitive bidding process, Mayor Ballantyne is excited to announce the Administration has secured ​​​​lower prices for all supply options. The City has secured these ​​lower prices while also doubling the amount of renewable energy in the Default Local Green option. The Default Local Green option will now provide 40% additional regionally produced, zero-carbon renewable energy (also known as MA Class I RECs), for a total of 64%. 

“Switching to renewable energy while supporting local projects is essential for Somerville’s goal of becoming carbon net-negative,” said Mayor Ballantyne. “What’s even better is that we’ve secured lower rates for our residents while doubling the renewable energy in the Default Local Green option. This means saving money while increasing our commitment to a cleaner future. By 2030, over 24,000 Somerville electric customers will be powered by 100% regional, renewable energy.” 

Historically, participants in the 100% Local Green option were responsible for bringing in a disproportionate amount of additional renewable energy purchased through the program. The new contract will bring the contribution of additional renewable energy purchased from the Default Local Green option up and the contribution of the 100% Local Green down. This creates more equity amongst the program options by reducing the cost difference between the two and making it easier for residents and business to “opt-up” to 100% renewable energy. The changes are anticipated to increase the total additional renewable energy through this contract by 27 million kWh per year. 

Current Community Choice Electric customers can expect to start seeing the new rates reflected on their January 2025 bills. Interested residents can learn more about the program and sign up by visiting: If you would like to enroll in Somerville CCE, you may join any time. To join, submit a request at cce.somervillema.gov 

About the Community Choice Electric Program 

Somerville CCE began in July 2017. Through May 2024, Somerville CCE collectively purchased an additional 54,000 MWh of zero-carbon, regionally produced renewable energy, avoiding over 38 million pounds of carbon pollution. The program has saved participants $25.6 million since it began, compared to Eversource’s Basic Service Rate. Despite a historic increase in electric prices globally, more than one half (56%) of the additional renewable energy purchased and three-quarters (76%) of residential dollar savings occurred under the Ballantyne Administration. This year, Somerville CCE participants passed a milestone of 1 billion kWh used through the program. 

All new Somerville CCE prices will be fixed for 37 months, from December 2024 through January 2028. The Somerville CCE Program will continue to be served by Direct Energy. 

Learn more about our options at cce.somervillema.gov 

What this means for you 

New prices take effect on your December meter read, which for most is on December 23, 2024. The first bill to show the new Somerville CCE pricing will be the bill you receive showing usage from your December meter read to January meter read. Most customers can expect to receive this bill in late January 2025.  

No action is necessary to receive the new pricing for your current Somerville supply option, if listed above. For example, if you currently use the Default Local Green, you will automatically receive the new price for the Default Local Green listed above. 

You may switch to another Somerville CCE option at any time. To switch options, call the program’s electricity supplier, Direct Energy, at (866) 968-8065, or submit a request at cce.somervillema.gov.  

To check what Somerville CCE supply option you currently use, look at the Supply section of your Eversource electricity bill. If you participate in the program, it will include the “Old Price” listed above. In mid-November, all current participants will receive a letter notifying them of the new pricing and their options. The City will also issue multiple social media posts, in addition to this press release. Please direct residents or businesses with questions to Naomi Gross, Community Engagement Specialist, at (857) 274-2463 (text/call) or to cce.somervillema.gov. 

About the program 

In 2015, the Somerville Board of Aldermen (City Council) voted to authorize municipal aggregation. In 2017, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities approved Somerville’s plan. The current contract secured fixed pricing for all supply options from November 2022 through December 2024, providing multiple years of price stability. Most participants are enrolled in the default option, “Somerville Local Green,” which has saved about $315 for the typical residential customer over that time, while also providing an additional 20% zero-carbon, regionally produced, renewable energy, also known as MA Class I RECs. Please note, Somerville CCE cannot guarantee future savings because Eversource supply prices-to-compare are not known for the full term of our multi-year contract.  

Somerville CCE prices only apply to the supply portion of electric bills and take effect on the meter read date. Eversource will continue to set the charges on the delivery on electric bills and will repair outages and manage all billing. Somerville CCE has no impact on any solar benefits, low-income discounts, or budget billing plans.  

Customers enrolled in CCE may be eligible to receive discounts through Eversource. Income eligible customers may receive a discount of 42% on their total electricity bill while also benefiting from the Somerville CCE rates. A link to sign up for this discount, along with more information on energy efficiency and financial resources, are available at cce.somervillema.gov 

If you would like to enroll in Somerville CCE, you may join any time. To join, submit a request at cce.somervillema.gov 

Somerville CCE participants may leave the Program at any time, without penalty and return to Basic Service supply with Eversource. To leave the Program, call Eversource at (800) 592-2000, or submit a request at cce.somervillema.gov 

Avoiding scams 

Somerville CCE is the only electricity supply program from the City of Somerville. You may encounter other electricity supply offers from “third-party electric suppliers” in the mail, over the phone, online or even door-to-door from. Beware: the Attorney General’s Office has determined that such third-party electric suppliers have cost Massachusetts ratepayers more than half a billion dollars in utility costs above what they would pay if they used their utility’s basic service rate. These suppliers are separate and distinct from Somerville CCE, a Community Choice Aggregation program.  

Remember: Somerville CCE will never knock on your door. Vendors are required to have a permit to canvas in Somerville. If this happens to you, you may call the non-emergency line for help: (617) 625-1600. You may sign up for SustainaVille alerts to your email at www.somervillema.gov/sustainaville or on socials @sustainaville.ma to be notified of upcoming mailings. For tips and more information on how to avoid scams, please check out our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVQcqlAl-JY&t=1s and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7FSq5_KT4E  

-City of Somerville