Scituate Community Choice Electricity: How to Choose

If you live in Scituate or you are planning a move here, there is one utility decision that can help stabilize your budget and support local renewable energy. The Town’s Community Choice Electricity program changes only the supply portion of your bill, while National Grid or Eversource still deliver power and handle billing. In a few minutes, you can understand your options, compare costs, and decide whether to stay in the program, switch products, or opt out. Let’s dive in.

What Scituate CCE is

Scituate Community Choice Electricity (CCE) is the Town’s municipal aggregation program that purchases the electricity supply for participating accounts. The utility continues delivery service and billing, so you still call National Grid or Eversource for outages and service. The program launched in March 2023 and operates under a state approval issued on October 5, 2022. You can review how the program works and the Department of Public Utilities approval order for background details.

• Learn how it works: Scituate CCE overview
• Regulatory approval: DPU order, Oct 5, 2022

As of the most recent renewal, Direct Energy is the supplier and prices are fixed for meter reads from December 2024 through December 2027. More than 6,600 local accounts were on the default product at the time of renewal. Read the Town’s renewal announcement for the full update.

• Program update: Town renewal announcement

Your product choices and prices

Scituate offers three supply options. Prices below are supply only and fixed through December 2027 for participating accounts.

• Scituate Basic: $0.13870 per kWh. No voluntary renewable energy beyond the state minimum.
• Scituate Standard (default): $0.14289 per kWh. Adds 10 percent Massachusetts Class I renewable energy above the state minimum.
• Scituate Plus (100% MA Class I): $0.15193 per kWh. Matches 100 percent of your usage with MA Class I renewable energy.

You can confirm current rates and run your own cost estimate with the Town’s calculator.

• Check current prices: Program calculator

Note: Delivery charges from the utility remain separate and unchanged. Program prices include a small administrative commission of $0.001 per kWh, as outlined by the Town.

How the renewable piece works

Scituate sources extra renewable content using Massachusetts Class I Renewable Energy Certificates, with an emphasis on New England resources through Green Energy Consumers Alliance. This approach focuses on local renewable impact rather than out-of-region credits. If supporting regional renewable energy is a priority for you, compare Standard and Plus.

• Renewable details: MA Class I RECs and sourcing

How to compare to utility Basic Service

If you opt out of CCE, your supply reverts to the utility’s Basic Service. Those rates reset every six months for most residential customers. Because that number moves, savings cannot be guaranteed. Always compare the current Basic Service period to the CCE prices for your meter read window.

• Current comparison guidance: New electricity choices

Example: Using published rates for one Basic Service window, a home using 600 kWh per month would pay about $85.73 per month on Scituate Standard compared to $92.90 per month on National Grid’s Basic Service in that same period. That is roughly $7 per month in supply savings for that window. Use the calculator to check your own usage and the current Basic Service period.

• Run your numbers: Program calculator

Enrollment, opt out, and switching

Automatic enrollment vs. opt in

Most customers on utility Basic Service are eligible for automatic enrollment in Scituate Standard after receiving a customer notification letter and a 30-day opt-out window. If you already have a third-party supply contract, you are not enrolled automatically and must opt in if you want the program.

• Process overview: How it works

How to opt out or change products

You can opt out at any time with no penalty if you are enrolled through the Town program. To switch products or enroll, use the online form or call the supplier. Changes can take up to two billing cycles to appear on your bill.

• Make changes: Enroll or change your product
• Program documents and contacts: Resources

Special cases to know

• Solar and net metering: Your credits continue as usual when you participate in CCE.
• Low-income or budget billing: Delivery rate subsidies and budget arrangements remain with the utility and continue.
• Third-party contracts: Check your current agreement for early termination fees before switching. If you have a supplier block on your utility account, remove it before enrolling.

You can find step-by-step guidance and contact paths on the program site.

A simple decision checklist

1. Check the utility’s current Basic Service rate for your billing period, then compare it to each CCE option for your meter read window. Use the Town’s comparison guidance for timing details.

2. Find your average monthly kWh from 12 months of bills. Estimate your monthly and annual supply costs with the calculator.

3. If you have a third-party supplier, read your contract for any early termination terms before changing.

4. Decide how much local renewable content matters to you. Standard adds 10 percent MA Class I and Plus reaches 100 percent.

5. If you plan to enroll and you have a supplier block on your account, contact your utility to remove it, then submit the enrollment form.

6. Save your notification letter or confirmation and check the next one to two bills to confirm your product and price.

Resources to help: New electricity choices, Program calculator, Resources, Enroll or change

Who each option might fit

• Scituate Basic: You want the lowest program price and do not need extra voluntary renewable content.
• Scituate Standard: You prefer a default, set-it-and-forget option that adds some MA Class I renewable energy for a small premium over Basic.
• Scituate Plus: You want to match 100 percent of your usage with MA Class I renewable energy and are comfortable paying a higher supply price.

Final thoughts for Scituate homeowners and buyers

Picking an electricity supply is one small choice that can make your monthly costs more predictable and align with your energy priorities. Scituate’s fixed program prices through December 2027 create useful certainty for planning, especially if you are budgeting for a move or a new build. If you want local guidance on homes, new construction, and the costs that come with ownership on the South Shore, connect with The Guimares Group for a clear plan.

FAQs

What is Scituate Community Choice Electricity and how does it affect my bill?

• It is the Town’s group purchasing program for the supply portion of electricity; the utility still delivers power and sends your bill.

Are CCE prices fixed and for how long?

• Yes, current program supply prices are fixed for meter reads from December 2024 through December 2027.

How do I opt out if I prefer the utility’s Basic Service?

• Use the opt-out instructions in your notification letter or the program’s online resources; you can leave at any time with no penalty if you are enrolled through the Town program.

Does CCE change my solar net metering credits or low-income delivery discounts?

• No. Net metering credits and delivery-related discounts remain with the utility and continue unchanged.

What if I already have a third-party electricity supplier?

• You are not automatically enrolled. Review your contract for any early termination fee before switching to the Town program.

How long does it take for a product change to show up on my bill?

• Plan for up to two billing cycles, since changes align with your meter read dates.