Participation is…

  • Open to all metered electricity accounts in Amherst, Northampton, and Pelham.

  • Automatic for most accounts.

  • Never required.

Participation is open to both residential and commercial accounts in Amherst, Northampton, and Pelham.

Large commercial/industrial accounts may receive a higher market price at the time of enrollment.

If you have…

  • Eversource’s or National Grid’s Basic Service: Your account will be eligible for automatic enrollment in Valley Green Energy at program launch. The automatic enrollment model is state law. All programs like Valley Green Energy use an automatic enrollment model. If your account is eligible for automatic enrollment, you will receive a detailed notice in the mail from your Town or City in September 2024, and no action will be required if you wish to participate. Visit the program notifications & documents page to see the automatic enrollment notice.
  • A private electricity supply contract: Your account will not be eligible for automatic enrollment, but you may request enrollment.
  • Asked Eversource or National Grid to place a block on your account: Your account will not be eligible for automatic enrollment, even if you have Eversource’s or National Grid’s Basic Service. To participate, you must first ask your utility to remove the block, then request enrollment in Valley Green Energy.
  • Previously opted out: If reject an offer of automatic enrollment, or you enroll and then leave the program, your account may be eligible for a higher market price instead of the program price. If you are eligible for a market price, you will be notified and have the opportunity to accept or reject that price before being enrolled.
  • A low-income discount or fuel assistance: You will continue to receive your benefit with no change.
  • National Grid’s Budget Plan: The Budget Plan continues to apply to your whole bill with no change.
  • Eversource’s Budget Billing: Eversource’s Budget Billing will continue to apply to your delivery charges, but it will no long apply to your supply charge.
  • Credits on your bill or you receive an incentive payment because of solar panels on your property or because of participating in community solar: You will continue to receive your credits or incentive payments. Further, there will be no change in how they are calculated. Their calculation is not based on your electricity supply price.
  • A tax-exempt account: To retain your tax-exempt status, you must submit tax-exemption documentation to the program’s electricity supplier. Learn more.

Participation is never required.

You may opt out of Valley Green Energy at any time with no fee or penalty. If your account is eligible for automatic enrollment, you will be able to opt out prior to being enrolled. Or you can try the program and opt out at any time in the future with no fee or penalty.