Boston Community Choice Electricity
Boston Community Choice Electricity (BCCE) gives Bostonians greater control over the electricity that powers their homes, places of worship and small businesses.
Boston Community Choice Electricity (BCCE) is a municipal aggregation program. There are currently over 150 similar programs throughout Massachusetts-Boston’s is the largest one. The Program allows the City to secure electricity at a competitive rate. By using the City's collective buying power, we aim to provide affordable and renewable electricity to the program’s customers. BCCE ensures that energy decisions are made locally and reflect the values of Boston’s communities.
Sign up for A 15 minute meeting
Please note:
Revisions to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Standard (CES) have resulted in the need for nominal price adjustments in the City of Boston’s electricity supply program. This change effects all suppliers, including Eversource Basic Service. The average BCCE resident will experience an increase of $0.77 per month compared to the program's prior rates.
Read more here.
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Enroll:
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Additional Resources
If you're in need of additional assistance visit boston.gov/energy.
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Questions?
For enrollment status or general questions, email Theresa.
If you need help enrolling in the Program, sign up for a 15-minute one-on-one meeting.
Program rates
We've created three products so you can choose the one that’s right for you.
Eversource Basic Service customers are automatically enrolled into BCCE's Standard plan.
Customer accounts that have not been automatically enrolled into Community Choice Electricity, with Eversource listed as the supplier, may have a supply block on their account preventing enrollment. The block will have to be removed with Eversource customer service before you can enroll in BCCE.
Here's a guide to help you identify your electric supplier.
Rates for the program are valid thru December 2023
All three BCCE plans are currently lower than Eversource Basic Service residential rate (22% renewable electricity) and will be through at least June 2023.
- Eversource winter (January - June 2023) ($0.25776/kWh)
Use our calculator to determine how much your home or business can save on BCCE.
Eversource offers residents a supply option called Basic Service. BCCE strives to save customers money relative to Basic Service. However, savings cannot be guaranteed as Eversource rates change 2x each year. Eversource's winter 2023 residential rate of $0.25776/kWh is higher than all three BCCE plans.
Compare the cost of the program's three plans against one another. Here you can also compare BCCE products against Eversource Basic Service rates. BCCE's Green 100 is nearly half Eversource's rate! Additionally, you will be able to see the greenhouse gas reduction achieved with each of our three plans.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has developed a website to help consumers shop for electricity supply. Rates shown for third-party suppliers are introductory rates. We have witnessed Boston residents paying rates nearly four and a half times that of BCCE's Standard (default) plan.
How it works
(BCCE) gives you a choice on the type of electricity that powers your home or business.
The City of Boston has the ability to create our own products. We provide options for more renewable energy, like the Green 100 plan and the lower-cost Optional Basic plan, to help serve all of our customers.
BCCE automatically enrolls Eversource Basic Service customers.
Basic Service customers are mailed a notification letter giving them the opportunity to opt-out of BCCE or opt-in to more renewables. If you do not opt-out, you are placed on the program’s Standard (32% renewable energy) plan. You can opt-up to Green 100 or down to Optional Basic at any time. If you have a supply block on your account, you will not be automatically enrolled in the Program, but you can still join! Call Eversource and have them remove the block, wait 24-48 hours, then enroll by filling out our online form.
Continue to benefit from existing programs, plans, and assistance.
If you benefit from a program, plan, or some form of assistance, the BCCE program will not interfere with those benefits. In fact, we encourage those who qualify to apply for assistance regardless of their supplier.
BCCE is flexible. You can opt-in, out, Up or Down at any time with no contract or fees.
You can change your enrollment or renewable content by calling:
- the program’s electric supplier — Constellation NewEnergy — at 833-930-3161
- program manager, Theresa, at 617-635-2331, or
- by filling out our online form.
If you’ve signed an electric contract with a competitive supplier, you will not automatically be enrolled in BCCE.
But you can still join BCCE! Learn more on how to protect your account from the dangers of competitive electric suppliers, and your options moving forward.
Eversource continues to serve as your utility.
As a BCCE customer, Eversource continues to handle electricity delivery. They also handle customer billing and service, meter reads, and power outages.
Program principles
PrinciplesThe program has six principles (shown below) that guide the program. These principles were developed in coordination with a Working Group. This Working Group includes local experts and advocates, community leaders, and residents. They have met since December 2018 and have helped shape the design and implementation of the Community Choice Electricity Program.
We offer Boston residents a reliable, not-for-profit electricity option. Some residents have signed contracts with for-profit companies called competitive electric suppliers. Learn about the risks these contracts carry. The program offers residents an easy way to avoid these risks.
We intend to set low-cost electric rates that remain fixed over long periods of time. This helps residents plan their monthly household budgets.
The City of Boston is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. We reduce carbon emissions through the electricity we purchase for customers.
We work to increase the amount of renewable energy on the regional grid. The program purchases renewable electricity for its customers to support new renewable energy projects.
When buying renewable electricity for the Program, we strive to stay local. Listed in order of preference, the program will prioritize renewable sources from:
- Boston
- Massachusetts
- Within New England
- Elsewhere
We recognize that pollution and climate change cause more harm to socially vulnerable communities. The program aims to deliver benefits and economic opportunities to these communities.
Working Toward Carbon Neutrality
The Community Choice Electricity program helps Boston achieve our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Carbon neutrality means that our community will only release as much carbon pollution as our environment can safely absorb.
The City of Boston’s Climate Action Plan is our five-year work plan for how we achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The Plan highlights strategies for Boston to accelerate emissions reductions from its buildings, transportation systems, and energy supply. The Community Choice Electricity is one of the primary tools for reducing emissions from our energy supply. Learn more about our strategies to reduce carbon emissions.
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