Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Energy Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council refers Community Choice Aggregation presentation to finance committee for deeper review
Summary
Freedom Energy Logistics outlined Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) as a municipal electricity-buying option; the council voted to send the presentation to the finance committee for a detailed follow-up.
A representative of Freedom Energy Logistics, Bart Frometh, outlined Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) to the North Providence Town Council on June 3 and the council voted to refer the matter to its finance committee for a deeper review of potential savings, contract structure and consumer protections.
Frometh described CCA as a municipal purchasing group that replaces the energy-supply portion of a customer’s electricity bill while leaving delivery charges with the utility. He said aggregations elsewhere in New England have delivered budget certainty and, in some cases, savings; he described typical long-term program savings in the range of roughly 10%–15% over a contract, while cautioning past market volatility produced larger but atypical savings in recent years. Frometh said his firm affiliates with Colonial Power Group to act as aggregator and that about a dozen Rhode Island communities had heard his presentation to date.
Council members asked about expected savings, opt-out procedures and whether North Providence could combine with other municipalities. Frometh said CCA programs typically enroll customers on an opt‑out basis (residents receive notice and must opt out to avoid enrollment) and emphasized that scale improves negotiating leverage.
The council voted to send the matter to the finance committee for a detailed presentation and follow-up. Councilman Bacala moved the referral and Councilman Martone seconded.
What the council asked be studied
- Projected savings range and how Colonial Power Group/Freedom Energy Logistics has performed in similar markets.
- Consumer-protection measures, including opt-out notices and the process to return customers to utility service.
- Contract length, renewable energy options (25% vs. 50% renewable blends were mentioned as possible choices), and how a North Providence program would be structured.
The finance committee will schedule a detailed session to examine contract options, likely vendors and expected effects on residential and small-business electricity bills before the council considers any formal action.
