Confused about the postcard you received from the Town about options for electricity? Wondering about all the mail you receive offering to lower your electric rate? How do we decide what’s best for us? Who do we trust?

Maynard Power Choice, who sent the postcard in late June and followed up with a packet of information recently, is the result of Maynard residents working since 2022 through the Sustainability Committee and Town administration to offer better electric rates, have stable pricing for two years, and have the option to have more renewable energy at less cost than you have today.

“Overnight, residents in Maynard are using more  green energy,” said Sally Warner, local Climate Science professor heading up the Maynard Power Choice Committee for the town. “I’m doing this because I want to strengthen my community! We will never go door to door to sell you your electricity and you will always see the Town Logo on all our materials.” Sally is also organizing an educational campaign to inform residents of their choices. Meetings at the library and senior center and zoom will be held on July 24 and 29 with details at https://www.masspowerchoice.com/maynard and they’ll be tabling at the Farmer’s Market during July.

You don’t have to do anything, and your electric rate will go down. The Town has contracted with a different energy supplier – Direct Energy, an established company with a good record – while Eversource will still deliver and maintain our electrical power.  By doing nothing you will be enrolled in Maynard Standard which has an additional 5% renewable sources over the state-required 63% green energy requirement. You can have a lower rate than Standard if you choose Maynard Basic with just the state-required minimum amount of green energy or pay a little more for 100% green with Maynard Green, and that will still be less expensive than Eversource is now.

There is also an opt-out card in the packet allowing you to not participate in the program. We are currently in a 30-day education period for everyone to understand the program and make choices; everyone needs to decide their choice by August 4 or be automatically enrolled but you can also try the program and then opt-out at any time in the future without a penalty.

“Maynard Power Choice is a regulated, municipal electricity supply offering that gives our residents and business owners more control over the price and environmental impact of the electricity they buy,” said Maynard Town Administrator Gregory Johnson in the Town’s press release on the program. “Getting the best value for the community was a priority, as was moving toward our community’s sustainability goals. I’m especially pleased that we are able to do both, and to offer more for less – more electricity from renewable sources for prices that beat Eversource.”

Over 200 Massachusetts communities are offering Power Choice and there will be no disruption of services, no matter what you choose. Will you save money? Maybe! All three Maynard Power Choice prices are currently lower than Eversource’s residential and small business prices. But Maynard cannot guarantee that program prices will always be lower than Eversource because Eversource’s prices change seasonally, and we do not know their future prices. By participating in Maynard Power Choice you will have a guaranteed rate until November, 2027.

The Town is also looking for a part-time Municipal Energy Manager, 20-hours a week for three years, to identify and complete energy efficiency projects in town-owned municipal buildings. Interested applicants should have sent a resume to: [email protected] by June 30. The deadline has passed but qualified candidates will still be considered.