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Whately energy aggregation rate rises as DASI costs surge
Summary
Town Administrator S. Pete Kane told the Whately Energy Committee that spiking Day-Ahead Ancillary Services Initiative (DASI) costs prompted a $0.01160/kWh increase across the town's three Community Aggregation tiers, effective March 2026 meter reads, equating to roughly $6.96/month for a 600 kWh household; residents may opt out anytime.
Town Administrator S. Pete Kane explained to the Whately Energy Committee that an unexpected surge in Day-Ahead Ancillary Services Initiative (DASI) costs has forced a rate adjustment for the town's Community Aggregation Program, raising rates by $0.01160 per kilowatt-hour effective with March 2026 meter reads.
Kane said the original DASI estimate in the aggregation contract assumed roughly $6 per megawatt-hour, but actual costs were far higher: about $17/MWh in December 2025 and approximately $48/MWh in January 2026. He told the committee that the cold snap on Jan. 26–27 incurred roughly two years’ worth of expected DASI costs in just two days, and that the aggregation service agreement allows those costs to be fully reconciled to customers, triggering the current adjustment.
Under the new structure the program's three tiers will carry these rates: Standard (default, 100% renewable with National Wind RECs) $0.14205/kWh; Optional Green (100% renewable with MA Class I RECs) $0.15228/kWh; and Optional Green 100 (100% MA Class I RECs) $0.16612/kWh. At an average usage of 600 kWh per month, the increase is about $6.96 per month. Kane noted that Eversource's Basic Service is fixed at $0.13683/kWh for residential customers through July 31, 2026 but is expected to rise later due to the same market pressures.
The committee reviewed program offerings and communications. Caroline Gurek, the town's Community Development Administrator, confirmed information about the rate change, the rationale, and residents' ability to opt out are posted on the town website and on the Colonial Power aggregation webpage; residents may opt out at any time. The committee examined whether changing the default to the minimum required renewable level under Massachusetts rules would materially reduce bills and concluded the savings would be negligible (about $0.56 per month), so they retained the 100% renewable default.
Gurek suggested that towns in the region consider collective advocacy—either as a coalition or through their energy committees—to address DASI's disproportionate impact on New England regions with volatile demand. Kane said he supports coordinating with other town administrators and their energy committees when working with Colonial Power.
The committee recorded follow-up actions: Kane will coordinate with other town administrators and Colonial Power on potential advocacy; Paul Newlin will brief Dan Denehy on the aggregation rate situation as needed; and the Community Development Administrator will continue communications to ensure residents are informed and may opt out.
