The Cambridge Community Electricity Program recently announced updates to the program that give you more choice in the price you pay for electricity and the amount of renewable energy you receive.
Join City staff at an upcoming information session to ask questions and to learn more about the program options, how to check if you’re enrolled, how change your program option, and more.
January 17, 2024, 6:00 PM – Register now
February 13, 2024, 4:00 PM – Register now
The City of Cambridge today announced that the Cambridge Community Electricity (CCE) Program is entering a new two-year contract period with Direct Energy Services LLC (Direct Energy) resulting in new fixed electricity prices starting in January 2024*. While new program prices will be higher than current prices due to market conditions, Cambridge has used its purchasing power to secure prices that are lower than Eversource’s upcoming residential Basic Service price, though future savings compared with Eversource cannot be guaranteed. Residential and commercial account holders will also now have three electricity options that vary in price and renewable energy content.**
Launched in 2017, CCE is an electricity aggregation program for Cambridge electricity account holders that supports the development of local renewable energy projects. Most electricity account holders in Cambridge are already enrolled in CCE. Enrollment is automatic unless an electricity account holder has previously opted out of the program or entered into a contract with a different supplier. Whereas Eversource prices change seasonally, CCE protects Cambridge residents and businesses from changing electricity prices and there are no contracts or penalties for changing enrollment.
The Cambridge Community Electricity Program now offers account holders more choice in renewable energy content and the price they pay for electricity. All three Cambridge program rates will be less expensive than the Eversource Basic Service rate of 17.25 cents/kWh:
“The Community Electricity Program offers a competitive price and also advances the City’s sustainability goals,” said Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development. “We are excited to pioneer innovative energy programs and cost-effective options for our community.”
Residents or businesses who are already enrolled in the Cambridge Community Electricity Program, and would like to remain with their current option, do not need to take any action. Those who would like to change their option can call (844) 379-9934. For more information including how to find out if you are enrolled in CCE, which program option you are enrolled in, and to view a sample bill, visit: https://www.masspowerchoice.com/cambridge/faq/example-eversource-bill.
If residents or businesses are not enrolled in the Cambridge Community Electricity Program, but would like assistance with enrollment, they can contact (844) 379-9934.
Cambridge is one of over 150 cities and towns in Massachusetts that uses a municipal aggregation program to offer electricity to its residents. For more information about the Cambridge Community Electricity Program, visit: https://camb.ma/CCEUpdates.
*New electricity prices will take effect following the first meter reading starting in January 2024. Account holders may not see any changes to their electricity bill until their February or March 2024 bill.
**Large commercial accounts are subject to special terms and conditions.
The City of Cambridge and Community Development Department today announced the addition of community solar to its long-standing Sunny Cambridge program. Now all Cambridge residents, regardless of whether they rent or own, can leverage online tools and resources from Sunny Cambridge to shop and compare community solar projects or rooftop solar installations.
Community solar, also known as shared solar, solar gardens, or solar farms, allows anyone with an electricity bill and an available solar project nearby to subscribe. Without having to install solar on their own home, most community solar subscribers save 10% on the solar electricity they’re purchasing through community solar, resulting in a lower electricity bill. Massachusetts is home to dozens of local programs with some of the country’s best savings, including projects that offer income-eligible customers even greater savings.
Through the Sunny Cambridge citywide initiative, residents will have access to valuable educational resources, calculators and marketplaces to help you learn about and shop for solar with confidence. These services are completely free and 100% online through Energysage, a Boston-based organization the City of Cambridge has been working with since 2016. Residents would not be contacted by phone unless it’s requested.
Cambridge residents interested in subscribing to a local community solar farm should visit energysage.com/p/cambridge/ to learn more and sign up.
Sunny Cambridge represents just one way that the City is helping residents save money on their energy bills and reduce greenhouse gases. Residents who are interested in learning about similar programs that promote energy efficiency, renewable energy, or help save money on energy bills can visit www.cambridgeenergyalliance.org.
Are you interested in learning more about Electric Vehicle charging at home? We encourage you to attend an upcoming series of free webinars hosted by Eversource:
These webinars are being offered by Eversource and are intended for Eversource service area customers, which includes the City of Cambridge.
If you’re interested in learning about other all-electric home energy upgrades such as heat pumps, solar, induction cooking, and more, sign up today for a no-cost consultation through Electrify Cambridge.
2022 has brought a number of changes to the utility-sponsored Mass Save® program. Among the most notable changes are the new rebate amounts introduced for electric heat pump systems, with preference being given to whole home systems as shown below:
As seen from the table, the new heat pump rebates are the most generous ever provided by the Mass Save program in a bid to electrify heating across the Commonwealth. These rebates are also accompanied by additional requirements that need to be met to take advantage of the program:
Buildings in Massachusetts account for a large portion of the Commonwealth’s carbon emissions. These enhanced rebates represent a monumental effort to reduce emissions and achieve the Commonwealth’s Decarbonization Roadmap goals.
Learn more about heat pumps by visiting CambridgeCleanHeat.org, where you can access educational materials and receive assistance connecting with qualified contractors. To start the process of qualifying for rebates and financing, schedule a No-Cost Home Energy Assessment at www.masssave.com/cambridge.
Back by popular demand: No-cost consultations for air source heat pumps are back! If you’ve been waiting to receive advice about your heat pumps, now is the time to sign up for your consultation through the Cambridge Clean Heat program. When we offered these last year, the consultation schedule filled up fast.
The Sponsors of Mass Save® have also announced new rebates for heat pumps, including for customers who are switching from gas to heat pumps. (Customers switching from oil, propane, and electric resistance are also still eligible for the rebates.) You can get up to $10,000 back per home for customers who install an air source heat pump to heat and cool their whole home.
The Clean Heating Consultation Experts can provide you with guidance about heat technology options, connecting with qualified installers, and reviewing quotes to be sure you are moving forward with the best option for your home.
Schedule here today: cambridgecleanheat.org
Are you interested in learning more about how you can save money through solar energy? Whether you rent or own a property, investing in clean energy can help you save on your monthly electric bill. Attend a virtual information session hosted by the City and Sunwealth on Thursday, March 31 at 6:00 p.m. to learn more. To register for the information session, visit the Event Brite page at bit.ly/solarsession and you will be sent a Zoom link to join.
Join the City of Cambridge and Abode Energy Management at 7:00 pm EST on Wednesday, May 26th for an informational webinar on the City’s new Cambridge Clean Heating & Cooling Program. We’ll talk about heat pumps and solar hot water, and resources and incentives that can be used to improve your comfort, health, and impact on the planet. REGISTER HERE!
Cambridge Clean Heat is a city-wide initiative providing a marketplace of 3rd party vetted contractors allowing residents to adopt clean heating & cooling technologies with confidence.
Air source heat pumps and solar hot water systems are cost-effective, market-ready technologies that transform how homes use energy. These technologies can not only help save you money on your utility bills but significantly help Cambridge decrease its overall carbon footprint, benefiting the community.
Learn more or register for our upcoming webinar at www.abodeem.com/cambridge-clean-heating-and-cooling.
As our City grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Cambridge is continuing its partnership with the nonprofit All In Energy to connect renters, landlords, and condo/homeowners living in buildings with 1-4 units to energy-savings programs like the limited time offer of 100% off approved insulation that can help you upgrade your apartments and buildings and reduce your energy bills. This is all at no-cost and without anyone coming into your home until it is safe. If you pay a utility bill in Massachusetts, you are eligible!
To quality for 100% off insulation and other benefits, you can request a Virtual No-Cost Home Energy Assessment. The assessment is performed by a Mass Save® home performance contractor. All you need is a phone, the technology to do a video chat and/or send photos of the home over email, and access to your building or apartment to install eligible energy-saving measures.
Call (857) 496-5382, or click the link here to request your assessment, before September 30th to take advantage of the limited time offer for 100% off approved insulation! Virtual energy assessments and on-site assessments must be scheduled by this date, but can actually occur later.
Insulation and air sealing decrease your energy use, save you money, and increase your home comfort year-round, keeping you cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. During a Virtual No-Cost Home Energy Assessment you will receive, in addition to 100% off insulation, advice on energy-saving measures that you can implement in your home and energy-saving measures such as LED light bulbs, high-efficiency shower heads, and programmable thermostats (all shipped directly to your door and at no cost to you).
If your family participates in income-eligible programs or qualifies as low-income, you can access even greater benefits. Learn more here.
Join All In Energy and Cambridge Energy Alliance on Thursday, September 10 at 5:30pm to learn more about your energy bills, why they might be higher than they need to be, and what you can do about it. Register here.
Do you think your energy bills are too high, but you don’t know why? You are not alone.
Our teams have met many residents who feel this way. Energy bills can be confusing. We regularly meet people who tell us they don’t understand what they’re paying for or are overwhelmed by the number of solicitations they receive about their energy choices. We find that many residents are paying more than they should be for energy or are missing out on valuable programs that can help them save energy and money because they aren’t sure what will help them and what will hurt them. We created this webinar to help.
Join us if you want to be informed and take more control of your energy use and costs.
In this webinar, you will learn how to:
Please bring your electricity and gas bills with you so that you can follow along as you learn more about different parts of your energy bill. (We won’t ask you for any information on these bills; bringing them is to help you better understand them.)
We hope to see you there! Learn more or register here.
This webinar is being organized by All In Energy in partnership with the City of Cambridge’s Cambridge Energy Alliance, the Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation (CSNDC) in Dorchester, the City of Methuen and the City of Lawrence. It is open to anyone in Massachusetts. Learn more about All In Energy here.