Mayor highlights community electricity savings, announces volunteer openings and state-of-city date

In his Jan. 20 report to the Framingham City Council the mayor said the city’s community electricity program continues to offer rates lower than Eversource after the utility announced new basic service rates effective Feb. 1.

The mayor noted that all three Framingham Community Electricity options remain priced below Eversource’s comparable residential and small-business rates, including the 100% renewable option "Framingham Green Plus." He said he will provide a fuller update in March as the program reaches its one-year mark.

The mayor also reminded residents that the city’s state-of-the-city address is scheduled for Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. and announced volunteer openings on the five-member planning board (applications due Jan. 25), the Framingham School Building Committee (applications due Jan. 25) and the cemetery board of trustees (applications accepted through Jan. 30) to fill a vacancy created by an elected trustee declining to be sworn due to a conflict of interest.

Why it matters: The community electricity rates are a consumer-facing municipal program that may lower utility bills for participating residents and businesses. The near-term application deadlines create timely opportunities for resident participation in local boards.

Next steps: The mayor said a fuller community-electricity update will be presented in March, and applications for the listed volunteer positions will be processed by the city clerk and relevant appointing authorities.