Andover Residents Gather to Learn About Community Power Options

On a brisk January evening, 42 residents of Riverside Woods gathered to discuss electricity options for Andover households. The event, hosted by Joyce Losick-Yang, the town’s Director of Sustainability and Energy, and members of Andover WECAN, focused on explaining the benefits of Andover Community Power (ACP).

Attendees learned how ACP secured electricity rates that are lower than those offered by National Grid, while also providing opportunities for residents to support renewable energy.

Al Timm, an early supporter of the program, set the tone for the evening. “As for me and my house, we are buying the Ultimate plan,” he said. “For just one penny more than the standard service, we hope to make a difference in preserving our environment.”

The presentation guided residents through the steps to enroll in ACP and highlighted the program’s tiered options, each offering varying levels of renewable energy.

Questions from the audience underscored a strong interest in the details:

• Is there a cap on the number of kilowatt hours one can use at the Andover Basic price?
  No, there is no cap.

• What does the 15% in the Standard package mean?
  It means your electricity contains 15% more renewable content than the state of Massachusetts requires by law, helping to reduce pollution further.

• Is the ACP price guaranteed until 2027?
  Yes, the rates are locked in through 2027.

• I have a 3rd party supplier for my electricity like CleanChoice or Constellation or Clearview, can I still sign up for ACP?
  Yes, you can sign up for the program any time, however, you should check with your current supplier for cancellation penalties and consider waiting until your current contract ends.

Residents expressed both curiosity and gratitude for the opportunity to engage directly with experts. By the end of the meeting, many left with a clearer understanding of how to transition to ACP and a shared sense of optimism about Andover’s energy future.