DPU-Approved Municipal Aggregation Plans Save Electric Customers Money

07:43AM / Sunday, February 01, 2026Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has made headway in approving Municipal Aggregation Plans (Plans), leading to millions of savings for enrolled customers.

Since the DPU issued guidelines in July 2024, the agency has approved 47 Plans, 35 of which have entered into contracts with suppliers. This incredible effort demonstrates the ways in which the DPU has streamlined its processes and improved regulatory efficiency to provide real-time savings for customers.

"Municipal aggregation is a critical energy affordability tool," said Chair Jeremy McDiarmid. "Our experience to date shows that customers who participate in their city or town's Plan can save money on their electric bills while taking advantage of the environmental benefits produced by each Plan's clean energy supply. I am proud of the tremendous work the Department has done to expedite the approval process and unlock greater savings."

Participants enrolled in one of the 35 Municipal Aggregation Plans will see $2.36 to $18.60 in monthly savings through July 2026. Residential electric customers enrolled in these Plans will have saved roughly $25 million from December 2024 to July 2026, compared to the basic service rates offered by the investor-owned electric utilities. July 2026 is the latest month for which basic service prices are known; electric utilities procure their supply in six-month periods. Accordingly, whether customers continue to experience savings after July 2026 will not be known until basic service prices are approved for the period of August 2026 through January 2027.

The DPU's streamlined approach has not only lowered enrolled customers' bills but has equipped more homes and businesses with a higher percentage of clean, renewable energy, by purchasing clean energy. Many of the 35 executed Plans require the purchase of clean energy in amounts that exceed the state's Clean and Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards.

The DPU's current approach has improved regulatory efficiency and includes a commitment to a four-month period to review the Plans and issue an order, with many decisions occurring in less than four months. This approach allows municipalities to stand up their Municipal Aggregation Programs quickly, taking advantage of the energy market to optimize savings for their residents and local businesses.

To date, the DPU has approved 245 Municipal Aggregation Plans since the approval of the first plan in August 2000: close to 70 percent of the state's municipalities can offer their residents and businesses clean and affordable electricity.

All municipalities with approved Municipal Aggregation Programs and customers who choose to switch electricity suppliers are advised to be aware of recent scams and stay informed by visiting the DPU's page.

Background on Municipal Aggregation

Municipal aggregation was first established in 1997 following the passage of the Electric Industry Restructuring Act. Municipal aggregation, also known as community choice aggregation, allows a municipality to solicit bids for and purchase electricity supply on behalf of its residents and businesses. Massachusetts state law requires municipalities to submit municipal aggregation plans to the DPU for review and approval.

According to data from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources as of June 2025, 52 percent of residential customers, 37 percent of low-income customers, and 42 percent of small commercial and industrial customers are supplied from municipal aggregation programs.

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Pittsfield School Committee Requests Redacted PHS Report

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:30PM / Saturday, January 31, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee and City Council have requested a redacted report of the Pittsfield High School investigation that concluded last spring.

On Wednesday, the committee approved member Ciara Batory's request to release the PHS investigative report with proper redactions by Feb. 18. The previous day, City Council members made the same request, but left the deadline up to the School Committee.

Five past and present PHS staff members were investigated for alleged misconduct, and allegations were found to be "unsupported," according to executive summaries released by the former committee.

"The fact that the City Council has urged transparency here speaks volumes. When another elected body looks at a situation and says the public deserves answers, we should listen because trust isn't built by asking people to take our word for it," Batory said.

"Trust is built by showing our work. Honesty will always shine, and secrecy will always create doubt."

It was noted that the report will be heavily redacted and might provide less information than the summaries. The School Committee will review the document before it reaches the public.

"In preparation for the meeting, I have been told by legal counsel that what will be released as a redacted version will have less information than what was in the summary report," Mayor Peter Marchetti, chair of the committee, said.

"That's what I can share."

Batory asserted that the district cannot move forward by asking families to trust major changes in the district, such as the middle school restructuring, "while holding information they paid for, information that directly impacts their confidence in the system that serves their children."

"Let me be clear. I'm not asking us to be reckless," she said. "I’m asking for a redacted release, a legal release so we protect students' privacy while giving the community the truth they deserve."

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