Cambridge Residents Saving on Electricity Through Community Program

Municipal Aggregation Program locks in affordable renewable energy rates for Cambridge homes and businesses.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 2:53am

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A vibrant abstract illustration composed of overlapping triangles and rectangles in shades of blue, green, and yellow, conceptually representing the collective power of a community electricity program to provide affordable renewable energy.A community-driven energy program helps Cambridge residents access affordable, sustainable power.Cambridge Today

A community electricity program in Cambridge, Massachusetts is helping residents save money on their energy bills while also increasing the amount of renewable energy they receive. The Cambridge Community Electricity program negotiates long-term contracts with electricity suppliers to provide 75% renewable energy at a lower rate than the basic service offered by utility company Eversource.

Why it matters

High energy costs have been a major concern for Massachusetts residents, and this community program aims to address that by leveraging the collective buying power of Cambridge residents and businesses to secure more affordable and sustainable electricity. It also helps the city work towards its climate goals by significantly increasing the amount of renewable energy used.

The details

Through the Cambridge Community Electricity program, households are paying 14.48 cents per kilowatt hour compared to Eversource's basic service rate of 15.62 cents per kilowatt hour. The program has also increased the renewable energy content of participants' electricity supply to 75%, well above the 30% required by state law. This is made possible by new solar and wind power projects developed in Illinois and North Dakota that the program has contracted with.

  • In February 2026, the new Cambridge Community Electricity rates took effect.
  • The program's current contract with an electricity supplier runs for the next 3 years.

The players

Cambridge Community Electricity Program

A municipal aggregation program that negotiates electricity supply contracts on behalf of Cambridge residents and businesses to provide more affordable and renewable energy.

Eversource

The utility company that delivers electricity to homes and businesses in Cambridge and handles billing, but does not set the supply rates for the Cambridge Community Electricity program.

Megan Shaw

Climate strategy and implementation manager for the city of Cambridge, who oversees the Cambridge Community Electricity program.

Julie Wormser

Chief Climate Officer for the city of Cambridge, who emphasizes the importance of addressing both affordability and climate action through programs like the community electricity initiative.

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What they’re saying

“It's sort of like shopping for electricity at Costco. You're getting a bulk purchase price.”

— Megan Shaw, Climate strategy and implementation manager, City of Cambridge

“It's a false choice to say it's affordability versus climate action. We have to do both.”

— Julie Wormser, Chief Climate Officer, City of Cambridge

“One thing that Cambridge Community Electricity Program does, it says, you know, this is actually an aggregation. We're all acting collectively as citizens and business owners here in Cambridge.”

— Megan Shaw, Climate strategy and implementation manager, City of Cambridge

What’s next

The city of Cambridge plans to continue expanding the reach and impact of the Community Electricity Program, working to enroll more residents and businesses while also exploring opportunities to add more renewable energy sources to the program's electricity supply.

The takeaway

The Cambridge Community Electricity Program demonstrates how municipalities can leverage collective buying power to provide residents with more affordable and sustainable energy options, addressing both cost concerns and climate goals. This model could be replicated in other communities seeking to make progress on these critical issues.