Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question about the program and how it will impact you? See below for a list of frequently asked questions and answers. Also, check out the links in the Learn More box to the right.

If you still don’t see what you’re looking for, please feel free to contact Westborough’s program consultants for customer support.

General program information

What is the Westborough Power Choice program?

The program is a municipal electricity aggregation, which is a form of group purchasing in which a city or town arranges electricity supply on behalf of its citizens. Aggregation is allowed by Massachusetts law and is growing in popularity.

The term aggregation is used because all of Westborough’s electrical load is combined, or aggregated, and given to the same electricity supplier. This allows Westborough to get the best price possible from that electricity supplier.

Westborough has chosen Direct Energy as the electricity supplier for the community. The Town used a competitive bidding process to select Direct Energy and make sure that you get the best price possible for your electricity supply.

Someone came to my door/called me about an electricity program. Do they represent National Grid or Westborough's program?

If you receive a personal call or visit about your electricity, that person does not represent the Town of Westborough, National Grid, or the Westborough Power Choice program. Neither National Grid nor the Town is knocking on doors or making individual sales phone calls. Westborough mails a single notice with detailed program information to residents and businesses eligible for automatic enrollment. That notice includes the Town Seal in the header and Town Manager Kristi Williams’ name at the end.

If you receive a call or a visit from someone who wants to discuss your electricity, here are three things to keep in mind:

  • The person you are speaking with is not associated with National Grid, the Town of Westborough, or Westborough Power Choice.
  • You should treat your National Grid account number like you treat your credit card information. Do not give it out unless you want to purchase your electricity from someone else.
  • You do have the right to select an electricity supplier of your choice. If you choose to explore this option, please check the terms of the agreement carefully. Things to check for include, but are not limited to: minimum bill amounts, contract length requirements, early termination fees, low introductory rates that change after the introductory period ends, and rates that vary.

If you feel a salesperson has fraudulently identified themself as working for National Grid or the Town of Westborough, please report it to the Department of Public Utilities Consumer Division 617-737-2836, or DPUConsumer.Complaints@state.ma.us.

How do I benefit from the program?

You benefit in three ways:

Potential savings: The program price has the potential to be lower than National Grid’s Basic Service price. However, savings cannot be guaranteed. The program price is fixed for a long period of time, but National Grid’s Basic Service prices change, and future prices are not known. There will likely be months when the program price is higher than the National Grid price.

Choice: The program gives you three alternatives to National Grid’s Basic Service.

  • Standard plan: All program participants will be automatically enrolled in the Standard offering unless they choose one of the two plans. The Standard plan includes an additional 20% renewable electricity (MA Class I RECs), over and above the state minimum amount, for a total of 44% in 2024.
  • 100% Green plan: This option allows you to make your electricity 100% renewable, and all electricity is from new renewable energy resources in the New England region (100% MA Class I RECs).
  • Budget plan: Like National Grid’s Basic Service, this plan includes just the minimum amount of renewable energy required by state law,

Predictability: Your electricity supply price will not change until November 2025. Additionally, all program terms are public, and there are no hidden costs.

How long will the program last? What will happen after November 2025?

When Westborough’s contract with Direct Energy ends in 2025, the Town can establish a new electricity supply contract or end the program.

  • If Westborough signs a new contract, all active program participants will be automatically enrolled in the new contract.
  • If Westborough chooses instead to end the program, all active program participants will be automatically returned to National Grid’s Basic Service.

In either case, Westborough will make an announcement, and the transition will be seamless for program participants.

Who do I call if my power goes out?

Call National Grid if your power goes out, as always.

National Grid will continue to read meters, maintain distribution and transmission lines, and provide customer service.

National Grid’s customer service number is 1-800-465-1212.

I have solar panels on my property or I participate in a community solar program. If I join Westborough Power Choice, will I continue to receive the credits or payments that I receive now?

Yes. You will continue to receive solar credits and/or solar incentive payments, and participating in Westborough Power Choice will not change how they are calculated.

How do I maintain my account's tax-exempt status if I participate in Westborough Power Choice?

Tax-exempt accounts that wish to maintain their tax-exempt status in Westborough Power Choice must submit tax-exemption documentation to the program’s electricity supplier.

This means that tax-exemption documentation must be submitted each time the program’s electricity supplier changes.

The program’s electricity supplier is required by the State of Massachusetts to have valid tax-exemption documentation on hand for all tax-exempt accounts.

You may have submitted tax-exemption documentation to Eversource already, but Eversource does not share this documentation with the program’s electricity supplier. It is the customer’s responsibility to submit this documentation.

Information about how to submit this documentation is available on the tax-exempt accounts page.

If I enroll in the Standard plan or 100% Green plan, does this mean that more of the electricity that flows into my home comes from renewable resources?

No. It means that, of the electricity that is on the grid, you are purchasing more from the portion that is generated by renewable sources and less from the portion that is generated by other sources. However, your choice does not change the electricity that is flowing to your home or business.

Electricity supply and electricity suppliers

What is electricity supply?

Electricity service has two parts: supply and delivery. Supply refers to the electricity itself. Delivery is the process of bringing that electricity to you over the wires.

With National Grid Basic Service, National Grid chooses your electricity supplier and delivers the electricity to you. With the Westborough Power Choice program, National Grid will continue to deliver your electricity, but Westborough chooses its own supplier.

Who is the current electricity supplier?

Direct Energy is the electricity supplier for Westborough Power Choice through November 2025.

What is a competitive electricity supplier?

A competitive supplier is NOT your utility. A competitive supplier is a company licensed by the Department of Public Utilities to purchase electricity and related services from the wholesale electricity markets for resale to retail customers. Typically, a residential customer who buys electricity from a competitive supplier will see the charge as a line item on their electric bill.

Price, savings, and billing

What will my electricity supply price be as a participant in Westborough Power Choice?

Current program prices are available on the Your Options page.

Are savings guaranteed?

No. National Grid’s Basic Service prices change, and future prices are not known. As a result, savings cannot be guaranteed.

What will change on my National Grid electric bill if I participate?

The program will impact only the Supply Services portion of your National Grid electric bill. The Delivery Services portion of your National Grid bill will not be impacted by this program.

You will see two changes on your National Grid electric bill beginning with the month after your enrollment in the program:

  • Your electricity supply price will change to the Westborough Power Choice program price.
  • You will see Direct Energy listed instead of Basic Service on the Supply Services portion of your bill.

See an example National Grid bill.

Otherwise:

  • Your bill will continue to come from National Grid.
  • You will continue to send bill payments to National Grid.
  • You will continue to call National Grid if your power goes out.

If you are on a budget plan or are eligible for a low-income delivery rate or fuel assistance, you will continue to receive those benefits as a participant in Westborough Power Choice.

Will I receive a second electric bill?

No. National Grid will continue to bill you for your electricity, and this is the only electric bill you will receive as a participant in Westborough Power Choice.

I am currently under National Grid's budget billing and/or eligible for a low-income rate. Will this change?

No. You will continue to receive those benefits as a participant in Westborough Power Choice.

Participation

Who is eligible to participate in Westborough Power Choice?

All electricity customers within the geographic boundaries of Westborough are eligible to join the program. New electricity customers in Westborough will be automatically enrolled. You will receive a notice about the program by mail from the Town prior to being automatically enrolled and a few months after opening your electricity account. The notice will include information about the program, options in the program, and prices, as well as information about how to opt out of the program if you do not wish to participate.

Important note: For any customer who previously opted out of or left the program and wishes to re-enroll, the program’s electricity supplier is entitled to charge a market price instead of the program price for the remainder of the current electricity supply contract. If the program’s electricity supplier decides to charge market pricing, you will be notified before enrollment and can decide then whether to continue with enrollment or not.

How do I participate in Westborough Power Choice?

If you are a new resident in Westborough or have opened a new National Grid electricity account, you will receive a notice about the program by mail. If you wish to participate, you need to do nothing. You will be automatically enrolled if you do not opt out.

If you have signed an electricity supply contract with another electricity supplier, you will not be automatically enrolled. However, you are welcome to join the program. To join, request enrollment online or contact customer support at 1-844-483-5004. We recommend that you carefully check the terms and conditions of your supplier agreement. Your ability to terminate your agreement with your supplier may be restricted.

Important note: For any customer who previously opted out of or left the program and wishes to re-enroll, the program’s electricity supplier is entitled to charge a market price instead of the program price for the remainder of the current electricity supply contract. If the program’s electricity supplier decides to charge market pricing, you will be notified before enrollment and can decide then whether to continue with enrollment or not.

What if I am with another electricity supplier, but I want to participate in Westborough Power Choice?

If you have signed an electricity supply contract with another supplier, you are welcome to join the program.

To enroll, you may request enrollment online or contact customer support at 1-844-483-5004 and ask to join.

We recommend that you carefully check the terms and conditions of your supplier agreement. Your ability to terminate your agreement with your supplier may be restricted.

Important note: For any customer who previously opted out of or left the program and wishes to re-enroll, the program’s electricity supplier is entitled to charge a market price instead of the program price for the remainder of the current electricity supply contract. If the program’s electricity supplier decides to charge market pricing, you will be notified before enrollment and can decide then whether to continue with enrollment or not.

How do I choose the 100% Green plan or the Budget plan?

To choose the 100% Green plan or the Budget plan, complete the online form or call customer support at 1-844-483-5004.

What if I don't want to participate in Westborough Power Choice?

You may choose not to participate. This is called opting out. You may opt out at any time. There is no penalty for opting out. If you choose to opt out, you will be returned to National Grid’s Basic Service.

You have three ways to opt out of the program:

1. Sign and return the reply card that you received in the mail, if you received a program notice from the Town. You must postmark your response within 30 days of the date on the letter in order to be opted out of the program before being enrolled.

2. Call customer support at 1-844-483-5004 and tell them you want to opt out of the Westborough Power Choice program. You may do this at any time after receiving the program notice and/or at any time after participating in the program.

3. Opt out online. You may do this at any time after receiving the program notice and/or at any time after participating in the program.

Can I leave, or opt out of, the program and re-enroll?

Yes, however, for any customer who previously opted out of or left the program and wishes to re-enroll, the program’s electricity supplier is entitled to charge a market price instead of the program price for the remainder of the current electricity supply contract. If the program’s electricity supplier decides to charge market pricing, you will be notified before enrollment and can decide then whether to continue with enrollment or not.

I have a large commercial account. Am I eligible for program pricing?

Large commercial accounts may be eligible for higher market pricing instead of program pricing when they request initial enrollment in the program. If you are interested in submitting an enrollment request for your large commercial account, please contact customer support.

National Grid

Will National Grid provide me with a lower quality of service if I participate in Westborough Power Choice?

No. National Grid’s quality of service will not be affected by your participation in the program. National Grid does not profit from the supply charges on your electric bill. They make their profit from delivery charges. As a result, they have no preference whether they are your supplier or Westborough chooses a different supplier for you.

Is my electric utility changing? Does Westborough Power Choice replace National Grid?

No. Westborough Power Choice does not replace National Grid. National Grid will still be your electricity utility, and your primary relationship for electricity will continue to be with National Grid:

  1. Your electric bill will continue to come from National Grid.
  2. You will continue to send bill payments to National Grid.
  3. You will continue to call National Grid if your power goes out.
  4. If you are eligible for a low-income delivery rate or fuel assistance, you will continue to receive those benefits.

Renewable electricity

What is the minimum amount of renewable electricity required by state law?

The minimum amount increases every year. For 2024, Massachusetts state law requires that renewable electricity must be purchased from new renewable resources in the New England region to match 24% of your electricity use.

In addition, state law requires the purchase of a minimum amount of renewable energy from older renewable energy projects in the New England region, as well as from some other energy sources that are considered highly efficient but not renewable.

For more information, visit the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources page on compliance information for the Renewable Portfolio Standard.

Why should I opt up to 100% Green?

Westborough Power Choice 100% Green is different from most other renewable electricity offers.

With Westborough Power Choice 100% Green, you will buy renewable electricity to match 100% of your electricity use, and it will all be from new renewable resources in the New England region (MA Class I RECs).

By choosing 100% Green and buying renewable electricity to match all of your electricity use, you will make an important contribution to:

  • reducing Westborough’s greenhouse gas emissions
  • creating demand for more renewable electricity on the New England power grid
  • supporting local renewable energy businesses and the jobs that go with them
  • reducing local air pollution