In July of 2017, our town launched “WinPower”, a community-wide aggregated electricity program offering residents a stable rate on our electricity supply through a group-purchasing model. Our initial rates ran from July 2017 through December 2019 and beat the Eversource basic rate.
The new rate begins in January 2020 and will remain stable through December 2022. The new WinPower (default product) rate will be 1.25 cents/kWh less, or 10 percent, lower than Eversource’s Residential Basic Service rate.
First and foremost, WinPower promised to provide price stability when compared to Eversource Basic Service rates. But WinPower also hoped to generate savings for residents. To date Winchester residents have together saved $1,306,555 on their power bills via participation in WinPower.
And now, the WinPower standard rate includes an additional 10 percent (up from 5 percent) more local renewable energy than the Eversource state- mandated 16 percent! If you opted out of the program previously, now is the time to opt back in. Contact the WinPower program supplier, Dynegy, at (866) 220-5696 to make the switch or go to www.WinPowerMa.com to sign up and find more information on rates, including a cost calculator.
To date, 154 Winchester households have reduced their carbon footprint 30 percent by opting up to WinPower 100, our 100 percent renewable option. Even if you can’t have solar pv on your own roof, opting up to WinPower 100 allows you to support clean energy. With a quick phone call to Dynegy at (866) 220 -5696, your household could join this growing number to help reduce greenhouse gases. Through our partnership with the Green Energy Consumers’ Alliance (www.greenenergyconsumers.org), WinPower’s added renewable portfolio supports wind and solar projects in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
At the program’s inception, all residents on Eversource Basic service were automatically enrolled in the town’s WinPower program. This resulted in an amazing 85 percent town participation rate. To be certain you are enrolled in WinPower, look for the supplier listed on your Eversource bill. It should read “Dynegy”, the electricity supplier for WinPower.
New residents and residents changing an Eversource account will receive a letter of participation, and like all residents, have the choice to opt out. However, the town encourages residents to utilize the price stability, increased renewables and overall savings found by participating in the WinPower program.
Residents are cautioned that private companies offering renewable “green” electricity, sometimes with cash incentives to switch, often begin at highly competitive rates, but raise those rates, usually far above the WinPower default rate and usually without notice to the customer.
An information session will be held for residents on Wednesday, Jan. 22 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. at the Jenks Center. Bring your bill and your questions. Town Energy Conservation Coordinator and Town Energy Outreach Coordinator will be on hand to answer your questions.