If you pay an Eversource electric bill in Cambridge, there is a good chance you are already part of a quiet power shake-up. The city’s community electricity program is now delivering cheaper, cleaner power to most residents, with its default Standard Green option boosting the share of new renewable energy while also cutting the supply price. Multi-year contracts are helping lock in those supply costs, while Eversource continues to handle delivery and billing. For households enrolled automatically, the change appears on the supply line of the Eversource bill.
According to the City of Cambridge, the Standard Green option is priced at 14.48¢ per kilowatt-hour and is expected to deliver roughly 75% of its electricity from new renewable sources. The 100% Green option is set at 14.90¢ per kilowatt-hour, while the Economy option comes in at 13.77¢ per kilowatt-hour. All three supply prices are fixed from January 2026 through January 2029. The city also reports that Cambridge Community Electricity has already saved residents and businesses tens of millions of dollars compared with past utility basic-service rates since the program began.
As reported by NBC Boston, about 80% of Cambridge households are currently enrolled in this group-buying program. A buyer consortium that includes Harvard, Mass General Brigham and MIT helped secure large solar and wind projects that provide the renewable credits behind the program. "It's a false choice to say it's affordability versus climate action. We have to do both," Cambridge Chief Climate Officer Julie Wormser told NBC Boston, describing the dual focus on lower bills and deeper emissions cuts.
How the Program Lowers Costs and Raises Clean Power
Cambridge relies on long-term electricity supply contracts and purchases of Renewable Energy Certificates, or RECs, to back new projects located outside New England, then credits those environmental benefits to local customers. The Standard Green option’s higher renewable share is supported by new projects the city helped bring online through this structure. Information from MassPowerChoice shows that the Standard Green supply price of 14.48¢ per kilowatt-hour is lower than Eversource’s current Basic Service rate of about 15.629¢ per kilowatt-hour for the period from Feb. 1 to July 31, 2026. Delivery and billing still run through Eversource, while the city negotiates only the supply charge.
What to Look for on Your Bill
The city is urging residents to check the supplier listed on the front of their Eversource bill. Active participants in the program should see a supplier name similar to "CAMBRIDGE COMM ELEC DIRECT ENERGY." The January 2026 meter read automatically enrolled existing accounts into the new prices. Cambridge officials also warn residents to be wary of phone solicitations and gift-card scams related to electricity service. Participants can switch among the available options or opt out of Cambridge Community Electricity at any time without penalty. For enrollment information and assistance, the city directs customers to the program website or its customer support line.
Could Other Cities Follow?
Municipal aggregation programs like Cambridge’s depend on bulk buying power and long-term contracts to reach scale and to help finance new energy projects. At the same time, state policy is pressing for affordability tools that work alongside decarbonization goals. The Healey-Driscoll administration’s Energy Affordability Agenda outlines steps that state officials say are intended to provide immediate relief and longer-term savings for utility customers, pairing broad affordability measures with incentives for clean energy deployment.
For Cambridge residents, the bottom line is straightforward. If you are enrolled, you are likely getting more renewable energy for the supply portion of your bill along with a locked-in supply price through 2029. If you are not enrolled, you can check the supplier line on your Eversource statement and review the program page to compare options before deciding. For more reporting and a local explainer, see MassPowerChoice and NBC Boston.
