▼

Community Electricity FAQs Set 2

Show All Answers

1. What is the Community Electricity Aggregation (CEA) program?

Community Electricity Aggregation is an electricity supply program organized by the City and Town Councils of the participating communities. The program provides residents and businesses with new, City/Town-vetted options for electricity supply. The program was authorized by the Town Council in 2020. After a public review period, the Town Council approved the Plan for the program in August 2020. Finally, the Rhode Island Public Utility Commission approved the program Plan in November of 2021 (PUC Docket #5169)

2. When does the CEA program start?

The program starts with your May 2023 meter read. You can check the exact date of your meter read on your electricity bill.

3. What are the prices for electricity in the CEA program?

The Town will announce pricing for all CEA options, in March 2023. This will provide you over a month to evaluate whether participation in the CEA program is right for you.

4. What options will be offered in the CEA program?

5. What part of my electricity bill will be affected? Will delivery charges increase?

The program affects only the supply portion of your electricity bill; thus the delivery portion of your electricity will remain as before. The utility, Rhode Island Energy (formerly National Grid) manages delivery, which includes maintaining wires and poles and responding to outages.

6. Who do I call if there is a power outage?

You will continue to contact your utility, Rhode Island Energy, with any service related issues.

7. Who sends me the electricity bill?

Your electricity bill will continue to come from your utility, Rhode Island Energy. The only change you will notice is the Supplier line and the rate for your chosen electricity product.

8. How will my solar or utility discount benefits be impacted?

Your solar and any Low Income or Budget Billing benefits are unaffected by the program. You will continue to receive them from the Utility.

9. Can I benefit from the CEA program without paying for any additional renewable energy?

Yes – the Basic option is a great choice for that.

10. How do I leave (opt out) the program?

During program enrollment, you can leave the program by completing the Opt-Out card (included in your Program Notification letter). At the time you receive the card there will be several other ways to leave the program including a website form as well as a telephone number and email.

11. What happens if I move to a new address in Town?

You will open a new utility account and you will receive a new Customer Notification Letter at your new address, explaining the program and listing program rates. You will be automatically enrolled if you take no action. You can proactively enroll in the aggregation program by using the eventual website or calling the supplier once you have your new utility account.

12. Where is the renewable energy coming from?

All of the renewable energy will come from New England. All of the additional renewable energy included for the program will qualify as “RI New”, which come from new sources, located in New England. Much of that additional renewable energy will be provided by the non-profit Green Energy Consumers Alliance.

13. How can I learn more about the program?

You can read the Aggregation Plan for the program at:

https://ripuc.ri.gov/events-and-actions/commission-docket

The program website has a lot of information: https://goodenergy.com/rhode-island/ and keep an eye out for community meetings organized by the Town as the May 2023 approaches.

14. What are the program benefits?

The Standard product in our CEA program is designed to be cost competitive with the utility’s, Rhode Island Energy, Last Resort Service. The CEA program also offers expanded choice and access: the program’s four electricity supply products are open to any resident or business in the community, regardless of your financial situation, and you can leave the program at any time, without penalty.

15. Who may participate in the program? How do I sign up? Do I have to sign a contract?

Any resident or business in our community can participate and no contract is required.

When the CEA program launches, any electricity customer using Last Resort Service supply from the utility, RI Energy (formerly National Grid), will be eligible for automatic enrollment in the new program. Customers will be provided with an opportunity to opt-out at least 30 days before the program starts. Specifically, all eligible customers will get a Customer Notification Letter (opt out letter)  mailed to them in March 2023, with the program starting in May 2023.

Electricity customers who are enrolled with a third-party supplier will not receive the opt-out letter and will not be eligible for automatic enrollment. These customers can voluntarily join the program at any time beginning in May 2023, but should check their current contract with their supplier regarding penalties or early termination fees.

16. Why is the program an Opt Out program, instead of an Opt In?

The law requires that the CEA program give all eligible participants at least 30 days to opt-out before the program starts, and once it starts participants can opt-out any time without penalty. Anyone that does not elect to opt-out will be automatically enrolled in the program. The purpose of the opt-out design is to build a large enough group of participants to provide economies of scale for competitive  bidding. In this way, the CEA program can give residents and small businesses access to the same kind of buying power as many of the largest electricity users.

17. How was the renewable energy percentage chosen?

The Town voted to launch the program with a standard product that includes 10% additional renewable energy from Rhode Island sources to support the growth of the renewable energy development in New England and speed up our transition to a sustainable future.

18. How is this program different from the electricity solicitation letters I receive in the mail or even my phone?

This program is designed and overseen by the participating communities, which means we have put the needs of our residents and business first. Many of the other offers you may receive require credit checks to join and have termination penalties to leave. The program has no minimum requirements to join and there is never any penalty to leave or switch products. Also, the additional renewable energy in the program comes from Rhode Island, sourced by a local non-profit Green Energy Consumers Alliance, so we can change the electricity grid here, in New England, and move away from burning fossil fuels. Many offers may source renewable energy from outside or region or not disclose its location.

Check for the Town seal on materials you receive to ensure that you’re getting the correct information.