If you live in Brookline, you likely saw mailers or bill messages about Brookline Green Electricity. The Town runs this program to give you cleaner electricity choices at fixed rates. You can stick with the default option, or you can opt up to a higher renewable tier. This guide explains what that means for your bill, your impact, and how to switch safely.
Why green electricity choices matter in Brookline
Purpose
Choosing your supply option affects your monthly cost and how much renewable energy you support. Opting up is simply choosing a higher renewable tier in the Town’s program. The right choice comes down to your values, your usage, and your budget.
Program basics: how local green supply works
Enrollment, default supply, and opting up or down
Brookline Green Electricity is the Town’s municipal electricity aggregation program. The Town negotiates a fixed-price supply contract and offers several options. If you get Eversource Basic Service, you are automatically enrolled in the Town’s default product unless you opt out. You can change options or opt out at any time with no penalty according to the program overview. Customers who already use a third-party supplier are not automatically enrolled and must opt in if they want to join per Brookline’s program pages.
The current contract runs from your December 2024 meter read through December 2027, with Direct Energy as the supplier named in Town materials for this term per the Town’s announcement. The Town manages the program under Massachusetts aggregation law and posts details on BrooklineGreen.com program background.
Municipal aggregation vs. Basic Service vs. third-party suppliers
- Municipal aggregation: The Town locks in supply prices and offers choices. Eversource still delivers power, handles outages, and maintains wires. Only the supply line on your bill changes as the program explains.
- Eversource Basic Service: The utility’s default supply rate. It changes on a schedule and can be higher or lower than the Town’s rates in different periods see Brookline’s price comparison context.
- Third-party suppliers: Private companies that market different rates and terms. Be cautious with solicitations and read all terms. The Massachusetts Attorney General has warned about deceptive practices by some suppliers AG guidance.
Where renewable energy credits fit in
Brookline’s Green and All Green options add Massachusetts Class I Renewable Energy Certificates, or RECs. One REC represents 1 megawatt-hour of renewable electricity that meets state rules. Buying and retiring MA Class I RECs lets the program match your usage with renewable attributes from qualifying New England resources DOER’s qualified unit lists and Brookline’s renewable sourcing overview.
It is important to set expectations. You still receive the grid mix over Eversource wires. RECs support the economics of renewable projects, but they are not the same as installing solar on your roof. They are a tool that helps direct dollars to local clean energy markets MassCEC context on REC tracking.
Opt-up choices: what changes when you upgrade
Brookline’s published supply options and prices for the Dec 2024 to Dec 2027 term are:
- Brookline Basic: 13.400 cents per kWh
- Brookline Green: 14.681 cents per kWh
- Brookline All Green: 17.525 cents per kWh For comparison, Brookline listed Eversource Basic Service at 14.884 cents per kWh during the referenced period. Prices apply to the supply portion only and can change in future periods. Verify current rates on the program site before deciding pricing page.
Environmental impact expectations
- Brookline Green matches 100 percent of your usage with MA Class I RECs on top of state minimums, using New England sources like wind, solar, anaerobic digestion, and low-impact hydro renewable sourcing.
- Brookline All Green adds an extra 100 percent voluntary MA Class I REC layer. Choosing it directs more support to the regional renewable market.
- Impact lens: RECs help fund renewables, but they do not change the electrons to your home. Think of opting up as a values-based choice that supports local clean energy development.
Cost considerations and rate variability
Here is a simple example using a 600 kWh month:
- Brookline Basic at 13.400 cents: about 80.40 dollars supply cost
- Brookline Green at 14.681 cents: about 88.09 dollars supply cost
- Brookline All Green at 17.525 cents: about 105.15 dollars supply cost In Brookline’s comparison window, Brookline Green was slightly below the Eversource Basic Service rate, while All Green cost more. Your actual savings depend on usage and the current Basic Service rate. Always check the latest posted prices before switching pricing reference.
Contract terms, fees, and consumer protections
- You can switch among Brookline options or opt out at any time with no penalty how it works.
- If you are under contract with a third-party supplier, check for early termination fees. You are not automatically moved into Brookline’s program until you opt in program guidance.
- Watch for scams. The Town will not call or knock to enroll you. Never share your Eversource account number with unsolicited callers. The AG highlights risks like slamming and teaser rates that rise later AG warning.
How to read your bill and compare options
Supplier line items vs. delivery charges
Open your Eversource bill and look at the Supply section. There you will see the supplier name and the rate per kWh. If you are enrolled in Brookline Green Electricity, it will say so along with the specific product. Delivery charges, outage response, and metering remain with Eversource no matter which supply option you choose program basics.
Calculating your effective rate over time
- Find your monthly kWh usage on recent bills.
- Multiply each month’s usage by the per-kWh rate for the option you are comparing.
- Add 12 months to estimate an annual supply cost. This makes it easier to compare options across seasons and plan a budget.
When it makes sense to switch or stay
- Opt up if you value supporting New England renewables and the price difference fits your budget.
- Stay with the default if you want a lower rate within the program today and will reevaluate each year.
- Recheck if your usage increases, if Eversource updates its Basic Service rate, or if you plan a home upgrade that changes your consumption pricing reference.
Who benefits most from opting up
Homeowners planning long term
If you expect to stay several years, opting up can be part of a broader plan to cut carbon and align your home with your values. Pair it with efficiency and electrification to get the most out of cleaner supply.
Renters with utilities in their name
If the Eversource account is in your name, you can choose a Brookline option. If you plan to move soon, consider how long you will benefit from the chosen rate. You can switch or opt out at any time with no fee how it works.
Solar, EVs, and all-electric homes
Higher usage from EV charging or heat pumps can make your total renewable impact larger, even if the per-kWh premium is modest. Net metering and community solar credits typically work alongside aggregation supply without issues, since Eversource still handles delivery and credits on the bill program basics and Town guidance on community shared solar.
Landlords and condo associations
Clear building-wide communication helps residents avoid scams and understand their choices. Energy-forward messaging, paired with documented utility cost assumptions, can support leasing and resale narratives.
Step by step: how to opt up safely
Verify your current enrollment
- Check your bill for the supplier name and product. If it lists a third-party supplier, you must opt in to join Brookline’s program. If you see Brookline Green Electricity, you can change tiers within the program.
Make changes through official channels
- Use the enrollment or change form on BrooklineGreen.com or call the listed supplier number. You will need your Eversource account number and the 8-digit service reference number shown on your bill. If your account has a supplier block, call Eversource to remove it before you switch how it works.
Avoid door-to-door and phone solicitations
- Do not enroll from unsolicited calls or knocks. The Town will not enroll you that way. If someone contacts you, ask for written materials and verify against the Town’s website and the AG’s guidance before sharing any account info AG consumer warning.
Monitor your first bills after switching
- Check that the supplier name and per-kWh rate match what you selected. Save a PDF or screenshot and note the effective date. If anything is off, contact the program supplier using the number on BrooklineGreen.com program site.
Beyond electricity: home upgrades that amplify impact
Efficiency first: sealing, insulation, and controls
Air sealing, insulation, and smart thermostats reduce waste. Using less energy cuts costs no matter which supply option you choose. These upgrades also improve comfort in winter and summer.
Heat pumps and induction cooking
If you are moving toward an all-electric home, heat pumps for heating and cooling and induction ranges can reduce on-site emissions. When paired with a high-renewable supply option, your home’s footprint falls even further.
Rebates, financing, and timing improvements
Plan upgrades alongside purchase, sale, or refinance windows to align cash flow. Keep invoices and utility records to document energy performance for future buyers.
Local market perspective: how green choices influence real estate
Buyer preferences and listing differentiation
Many buyers value sustainability and predictable utility costs. Being enrolled in a higher renewable tier and sharing average monthly usage can add context to your listing and show a values-forward approach.
Appraisal, disclosures, and documentation
While supply choices alone do not change an appraisal, a clean energy story paired with efficiency and electrification upgrades can support marketability. Keep copies of program confirmations, utility summaries, and installer invoices.
Positioning your home as energy forward
A simple one-pager works well: your Brookline Green Electricity tier, average kWh by season, known efficiency upgrades, and next-step opportunities. This creates a clear narrative for showings and buyer packets.
Plan your next step with a neighborhood team
Choosing whether to opt up is a personal decision that balances values, cost, and timeline. If you want help aligning energy choices with your home plans, our team is here to support you. Schedule a consultation with the Muncey Group. We will help you read your bill, compare options, and map upgrades that fit your budget and long-term goals.
FAQs
What is Brookline Green Electricity?
- It is the Town’s municipal electricity aggregation program. Brookline negotiates supply on behalf of most residents and offers multiple renewable options while Eversource continues to deliver power program background.
What are the current options and prices?
- For Dec 2024 to Dec 2027: Basic 13.400 cents, Green 14.681 cents, All Green 17.525 cents per kWh. Rates apply to supply only. Check the program site for current pricing before you switch pricing page.
How do I opt up?
- Use the BrooklineGreen.com enrollment or change form or call the supplier. Have your Eversource account number and 8-digit service reference number. If there is a supplier block on your account, remove it through Eversource first how it works.
Will opting up change my reliability or delivery service?
- No. Eversource still handles wires, outages, metering, and delivery charges. The program only changes your supply line item and rate program basics.
Are the RECs really local?
- Brookline’s voluntary RECs are sourced from New England resources that qualify as Massachusetts Class I under state rules, which supports the regional renewable market DOER lists and Town sourcing info.
I already have a third-party supplier. Can I join?
- Yes, but you must opt in and review your current contract for any exit fees before switching how it works.
Can I combine aggregation with community solar or net metering?
- In most cases, yes. Community shared solar credits and rooftop solar net metering appear on your Eversource bill and can work alongside Brookline’s supply options Town CSS guidance.
How do I avoid scams?
- The Town will not enroll you by phone or door-to-door. Do not share account numbers with unsolicited marketers. Confirm any offer against the Town site and review the AG’s warnings on deceptive supplier practices AG consumer guidance.
