Committee reviews Mass Power Choice enrollment, outreach needs and upcoming heat‑pump delivery rebate

Committee staff presented updated enrollment figures for the town’s Mass Power Choice program and discussed outreach steps to increase participation in the 100% green option. Staff said Needham’s participation in the 100% renewable option is close to typical early adoption levels for communities without a dedicated outreach campaign. The working group discussed outreach tactics used in other towns (steady, sustained messaging was credited in Newton; Lincoln’s results were described as driven by local advocacy) and agreed a focused local campaign — ideally coordinated with Town Communications and the Select Board — would likely raise enrollment in the higher‑impact 100% option. The group also reviewed cost differentials: staff noted the 100% green option carries a per‑household premium compared with the town’s standard Power Choice rate and that Eversource’s seasonally varying basic service rate (higher in winter) affects relative savings and messaging. Staff said the difference between Needham’s 100% option and the town standard is roughly on the order of cents per kilowatt‑hour that translates to a modest monthly bill increase (discussion referenced a typical household impact in the $10–$15 per month range as an illustrative example). Members asked for concrete, graphic translations of emissions avoided (miles driven equivalent, gallons of gasoline displaced) to help outreach. Separately, staff explained a new winter delivery‑charge rebate for buildings with heat pumps that regulators have approved for the major utilities: the program will lower delivery charges for heat‑pump customers during winter months and will be promoted starting this fall. Staff said customers who have had heat‑pump installations within recent years should confirm with their utility that the lower delivery charge has been applied and that the town and utilities plan coordinated messaging for the rebate. No policy vote occurred; staff proposed further coordinated outreach, including profiling local adopters and working with Town Communications on an outreach calendar.