Resident urges council to pursue municipal aggregation to lower electric bills

A Leominster resident urged the City Council to research municipal aggregation as a way to reduce electricity costs and shield residents from aggressive third‑party suppliers.

Peter Haggis (333 Elm St.), speaking during the public forum, told the council that 245 Massachusetts communities have adopted municipal aggregation and cited figures he attributed to the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources showing average residential savings of about $580 per year and business savings of about $2,200 annually in communities that have adopted aggregation. "One of the nice things about municipal aggregation is some of these third-party companies that do it are predatory," he said, and added that an aggregation program gives residents the right to opt out at any time.

Haggis pointed to nearby examples such as Gardner and Fitchburg and said municipal aggregation can be implemented independently or in partnership with other municipalities. He told the council that the city itself would also benefit from lower electricity rates for municipal accounts.

The council did not take action on the suggestion at this meeting; the comment was entered during the public forum for consideration by the mayor and council as part of future energy and procurement discussions.