AMHERST — An electricity supply price change will go into effect starting on Nov. 1 for the Northampton, Amherst and Pelham participants in Valley Green Energy, the regional group electricity buying program that launched in 2024.
The prices, which will be in effect for two years, should allow most participants in the three communities to save money compared to the residential electricity supply price set by either Eversource, for Pelham and Amherst, or National Grid, for Northampton, according to a statement released by the three communities involved in the program.
The change comes under a new two-year contract with Direct Energy Services, LLC.
While electricity supply prices have increased since the program launched, and Valley Green Energy prices are also increasing to reflect that, most program participants will continue to save compared with their utility’s residential electricity supply price, the statement said. The priced under the new contract are locked in through November 2028.
Under the new contract, pricing will shift from a single blended price to pricing based on the local utility territory. The change was made to ensure the most competitive prices possible and the potential for savings for participants across the three communities.
In Northampton, the Valley Green Energy Basic will be 16.29 cents per kilowatt-hour, while the 100% Green will be 18.79 cents per kilowatt-hour. National Grid’s current residential electricity supply price is 17.185 cents per kilowatt-hour.
In Amherst and Pelham, the Valley Green Energy Basic will be 15.83 cents per kilowatt-hour, while the 100% Green will be 18.33 cents per kilowatt-hour. Eversource’s current residential electricity supply price is 15.934 cents per kilowatt-hour.
The Eversource and National Grid electricty supply prices are fixed until Jan. 31, 2027.
Small business and commercial customers enrolled in Valley Green Energy Basic will pay slightly more than the current utility prices.
The price change will be reflected for participants on December electricity bills, with Valley Green Energy participants free to opt out or leave the program at any time with no fee or penalty.
The 100% Green option was originally intended to spur construction of new renewable energy projects by increasing demand for them, but federal policy changes are now preventing such projects from being built, Valley Green Energy said in its statement.
Go to ValleyGreenEnergy.org or call 844-202-6033 for more information.
