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What is Hampshire Power?
Hampshire Power is a program of the Hampshire Council of Governments which is controlled by local people chosen at local town elections. We are licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to buy and sell electricity on the wholesale markets and to sell to retail customers. We bring to our customers the benefits of buying wholesale. Our profits stay here to work for the good of our region.

What rate plans does Hampshire Power offer?
Because Hampshire Power is different from private, for-profit suppliers, our rate plans are substantially different, too.

PROFIT SHARING: Each month, customers pay the same rate they would pay if they were on the utility’s “basic” rate. We buy at wholesale, manage our costs to make a profit, and share it with customers on this plan. A profit-sharing customer will not pay more than the utility’s price; if we make a profit, we share it with profit-sharing customers..

REAL-TIME: Customers who are willing to accept some risk and manage their energy use may save substantially more by paying the hourly market price for electricity, plus a small adder to cover our costs.

FIXED: Fixed price customers enjoy a stable price for the duration of their contract term. Since the risk is assumed by Hampshire Power, the price is generally higher than with the Real-Time plan, but our fixed price is extremely competitive with those of other suppliers.

CUSTOM: We will help large commercial and industrial customers develop individualized plans to reduce costs and hedge risk.

Is there a charge for switching suppliers?
Neither Northeast Utilities nor National Grid charges a fee although private suppliers may have their own set of fees and charges.

What will happen to my service from the utility?
Nothing. Your current electric utility will still maintain the wires, get the electricity to you, and read your meter.

Why does Hampshire Power collect a deposit?
Municipalities and all other customers who can show timely payment of electric bills WILL NOT BE ASSESSED A SECURITY DEPOSIT. By requiring deposits, we are protecting your share of the profit. If a customer is late in paying, we can use the deposit to pay their bill. Deposits are held in a bank escrow account in the customer’s name and returned, with accrued interest, when the customer has developed a good record of timely payments.

How will I be billed?
Your utility will still send you a bill every month. If you choose the Profit Sharing plan, our charges will be included on the same bill, and the utility will send us our share. Other customers will receive a separate bill from Hampshire Power. It will include a simple consolidated summary, and Real-Time customers will receive digital data on use and price for each hour of the month to help you analyze and manage your electricity demand.

How can I help protect the environment with Hampshire Power?
The greenest power is the power you do NOT use. The real cost of electricity changes every hour. The dirtiest power is also the most expensive power. By choosing a real time rate, you receive a direct cost benefit when you reduce the amount of power you use in those most expensive and polluting hours. You can also support the renewable electricity industry by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates from Hampshire Power.

Who does Hampshire Power serve?
The program currently serves about 90 customers, most of them cities, towns, and districts, as well as a number of small businesses and non-profits and one state agency.

For more information call or email Geoffrey Rogers at 413-584-1300 x:153; grogers@hampshirecog.org.