Celebrating Growth & Transition: Team Updates At Green Energy Consumers Alliance
We’ve recently made some promotions! We’ve never had this many at once, so we’ll announce them together.
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Competitive Electricity Suppliers: The "Clean" Choice That Costs You More
Maybe this will be the last year I have to write about this stuff (more below on why), but I want to report an offer I received from a competitive electricity supplier. First, some context. I live in Quincy, Massachusetts, so I am able to choose an electricity supply service from three options.
Massachusetts State Senate Passes an Excellent Energy Bill
On July 1st, as temperatures reached well into the nineties, the Massachusetts State Senate passed an excellent bill. We say that because it will provide considerable savings for consumers without backsliding on commitments to clean energy.
Massachusetts Senate To Vote On Energy This Wednesday: You Can Help!
On Wednesday, July 1, the Massachusetts State Senate is scheduled to vote on a major energy bill, Senate 3143. We are as deeply engaged in this matter as we can be. Your help is needed to make it the best possible law.
Here are some points we think you should know.
Mass. Senate Energy Bill – Not Perfect But Very Good!
The Massachusetts State Senate is taking steps towards passing a very comprehensive energy bill before the holiday. As you remember, the House passed its energy bill back in February. The Senate Ways and Means Committee drafted the bill, and it is expected to be voted on by the full Senate on July 1. Overall, the bill is excellent insofar as it would make energy more affordable without backsliding on clean energy programs. There will be amendments filed to alter the committee's draft, but the starting point is solid. We do not endorse every provision in the bill, but there are major provisions that we enthusiastically support.
Your Battery Storage Can Help You Make Money—Here’s How
A battery storage system stores electricity that is either drawn from the grid or from an attached solar system during the times of the day when there is excess solar power being generated. The stored electricity can then be used at a later time, such as during a power outage.
Coming Soon: Massachusetts Senate Energy Bill
Readers of our blog know that we are actively engaged in lobbying for a pro-consumer, pro-environment energy bill this legislative session in Massachusetts. We reported on the House’s version back in February. The State Senate has been working on the bill since then. Here’s a very brief update with an appeal for you to contact your senator.
Your Smart Thermostat Can Help You Make Money—Here’s How
Smart thermostat technology has existed since the early 2000s and is one of the most universally recognized smart technologies on the market. A smart thermostat is a Wi-Fi-enabled device that allows you to control your home’s central heating and cooling virtually through an app. They use sensors and data to track your usage patterns and learn about your routine and temperature preferences over time, automatically adjusting when heating and air conditioning run. Smart thermostats can help lower your energy bills and avoid unnecessary energy use when you’re asleep or away from home. It also enables you to have complete control over your thermostat, even when you are away from home, giving you peace of mind.
Summer is Coming. Time to Shave the Peak!
As summer approaches, thousands of our followers prepare to “Shave the Peak.”
Subscribers to our Shave the Peak program will receive text and email alerts about how and when to reduce power use on days when electricity demand is significantly higher than usual. As we begin to see temperatures rise above 90°F this summer,more people will turn on their air conditioners to stay cool. This increased electricity demand leads to the grid operator having to call on more expensive and polluting power sources such as oil- and gas-fired “peaker plants". These fossil-fuel-powered peaker plants contribute only a fraction of our electricity over the course of the year (about 2-7%) but have an enormous impact on energy prices and air pollution.
How Massachusetts Residents Can Get Paid to Help Lower Peak Energy Demand
This blog refers specifically to the ConnectedSolutions program offered by Massachusetts utilities Eversource and National Grid. Program eligibility, incentives, and participating utilities vary by state and utility territory. Other utilities in New England, including Rhode Island Energy, may offer ConnectedSolutions programs with different requirements and benefits.
If you live inEversourceorNational Grid territory, your utility will reward you for helping to shave peak energy demand! When energy consumption is highest—typically during the hottest days of the year— it puts more demand on the electric grid. Hot weather is a major driver of peak demand, as more people turn on their air conditioning to stay cool when temperatures rise.