Quincy Community Electricity (QCE)
Quincy is in the process of developing the Quincy Community Electricity (QCE) program to provide new electricity choices to Quincy residents and businesses. The City hopes to launch the program in 2022.
Public Hearing
on July 22, 2021
Quincy’s aggregation plan is under review with the Department of Public Utilities (DPU). The DPU has scheduled a public hearing on the aggregation plan for Thursday, July 22 at 7pm by Zoom https://zoom.us/j/99705532043
Public hearing notice in English
Public hearing notice in Mandarin
Quincy Electricity Aggregation explained
Shelly Dein, Energy and Sustainability Director for the city of Quincy discusses aggregation with John O’Rourke from Good Energy, the aggregation consultant firm hired by the City to implement the program, and QATV host Joe Catalano. The aggregation segment starts at minute eight.
What is Community Electricity?
Quincy Community Electricity will be a municipal aggregation program operated by the city of Quincy. The program will pool the buying power of our residents and businesses into a large buying group, and use that buying power to solicit electricity at bulk pricing. As part of this program, Quincy can choose to add renewable energy into our electricity as well.
By default, your utility provides electricity supply, called Basic Service. With QCE, National Grid/Eversource will continue to deliver electricity and manage all electricity billing, however, the electricity supply source will be chosen by the city of Quincy.
Before the program starts, eligible electricity customers will receive an opt-out letter detailing the program and ways to leave the program (opt out). Eligible customers who choose not to opt out will be automatically enrolled. Participants can leave anytime without penalty.
Goals of Quincy community electricity (QCE)
Competitive Pricing
QCE program will procure electricity supply contracts when the market is favorable. Combined with the bulk buying power of thousands of households and businesses in the program, QCE will aim to produce savings for customers compared to utility’s Basic Service rates, however, savings compared to Utility Basic Service cannot be guaranteed because Utility Basic Service prices change every six months for residential and commercial customers and every three months for industrial customers.
Local Renewable Energy
QCE expects that our standard product will include 10% more local renewable energy, known as Massachusetts Class I, than required by the State. Local means New England-sourced renewable electricity, so you can have cleaner electricity and you can help to support the growth of renewable energy in our region. Learn more about our standard and optional products.
Price Stability
QCE will contract for a multi-year, fixed price contract. In contrast, National Grid and Eversource Basic Service rates change every six months for Residential and Commercial customers, and every three months for Industrial customers. Quincy Community Electricity rates may be above or below the utility Basic Service rate in any given period, therefore savings cannot be guaranteed.
No Obligation
Customers can leave or join the program at any time without penalty.
Solar programs and incentives are unaffected by the program.
Low income benefits are unaffected by the program.
How to participate
Quincy Community Electricity aims to launch in 2022. At that time, eligible electricity customers will receive an opt-out letter detailing the program and ways to leave the program (opt out). Eligible customers who choose not to opt out will be automatically enrolled.
The City will also do lots of outreach through print, social media, and events to spread the word about the program before it starts. Please see our Program Status page for updates on when the program will launch!