Hubbardston board authorizes bids for municipal electricity aggregation and names KP liaison

The Town of Hubbardston Select Board voted Dec. 15 to authorize solicitation of bids for municipal electricity aggregation and appointed KP as the Select Board liaison for the project, authorizing KP — with advice from the town’s consultant — to accept a winning bid that may require rapid acceptance.

Select Board members said municipal aggregation allows the town to purchase electricity as a group, potentially reducing rates while offering residents an opt-out option. "When the bids come in, we only as a town have a very short period of time to accept the bid, like an hour," a board member said, describing the procurement window and recommending the board give decision authority to a liaison working with the consultant.

Francois Steiger, the consultant referenced in the discussion, has been assisting the town with the aggregation process and requested a liaison from the Select Board to work directly with him. The board debated whether to authorize one board member to accept bids on the town’s behalf or to try to convene a meeting of at least three members to consider each recommendation; they ultimately authorized KP to act with the consultant's advice.

The motion to solicit bids, appoint KP as liaison and authorize KP to accept a bid passed after a motion and second. Board members said residents can opt out of aggregation and that the consultant will provide the recommendation that KP would act on at the time of a bid.