In 2012, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities ordered utilities statewide to file plans to upgrade their grids as a way to reduce outages and customer costs. Eversource submitted a $496-million plan to modernize its grid over the next 5 years, but some say it doesn’t go far enough in offering pricing flexibility to customers.
One of those voicing concern is the Cape Light Compact, which buys power in bulk for electric customers on the Cape and Vineyard, and advocates for ratepayers. Bert Jackson, President of the Cape Cod Technology Council, is working with the Council to gather input and feedback from the public. He said the current Eversource grid upgrade plan is primarily an enhancement of what’s already there, and doesn’t focus enough on smart metering technology.
“Their focus is on reliability, which is not a bad thing, but to not implement smart metering in an aggressive way,” said Jackson. “With their plan, you would need to opt in to a smart meter, and there is a cost to do so, unlike other plans where smart metering is automatic, and you have to make an effort to opt out.”
Jackson said smart metering offers Time Varying Rates, where customers could cut back on energy use during peak use times when energy is most expensive.
But Eversource spokesman Mike Durand said Eversource ran pilot programs and looked at research from around the country, and found that customers were often reluctant to participate in smart metering programs.
“With your research, we found that it’s more effective to have opt-in, so customers who are interested in taking advantage of time-varying rates have the option to say ‘Yes, I am interested – count me in,’” said Durand.
Customers who DO want to participate in the time varying rate program would need to have Eversource both supply and deliver their power.
“Any pricing options for supply from customers who are not on our basic service option would have to come from their supplier,” Durand said.
He also pointed out that Eversource has been using a technology called ‘smart switching’ for about 10 years, which allows power to be re-routed around damaged equipment during storms. Durand and it’s already helped to significantly reduce outage durations.
Still, Bert Jackson and the Cape Light Compact are trying to ensure that customers have a voice in Eversource’s grid modernization plans.
“We’re at the end of the line for the grid, being here on Cape Cod. So we wanna make sure that we’re not at the end of the line in the decision-making process,” said Jackson.
The Compact is compiling comments from a series of recent public meetings, and will present those comments to Eversource.
