Massachusetts
Market Guide
ELECTRIC
National Grid
Eversource (NSTAR)
Eversource (WMECo)
National Grid & WMECo
UTILITIES SERVED
National Grid
1-800-233-5325
Eversource (NSTAR)
1-800-592-2000
WHAT’S INSIDE
Market Information
National Grid
Enrollment & Billing
Eversource (NSTAR & WMECo)
Enrollment & Billing
Eversource (WMECo)
1-877-659-6326
APRIL 2015
Market Information
VIRIDIAN’S HISTORY
In June of 2012, Viridian entered Massachusetts, making it our seventh
market. We began serving both Eversource (NSTAR & WMECo) and
National Grid utilities.
RESIDENTIAL MARKET SNAPSHOT
13%
HAVE CHOSEN A SUPPLIER
MARKET SNAPSHOT*
In Massachusetts, only 13% of residential customers statewide have
chosen a third-party supplier. Specifically, out of the 1,120,569 eligible
National Grid customers, 7% have chosen a third-party supplier. In the
Eversource markets, 20% of the 996,537 eligible customers have chosen a
third-party supplier. In the commercial sector, 93,264 of 316,312 eligible
electricity accounts have chosen a third-party supplier, representing
29.4% of the market.
87%
HAVE NOT CHOSEN
LOCAL LANGUAGE
An alternate retail supplier is commonly referred to as a “Competitive
Power Supplier” or Competitive Supplier” by the utilities in Massachusetts.
REGULATORS
The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) oversees all energy activity.
DPU is responsible for the oversight of investor-owned electric power,
natural gas and water utilities in the Commonwealth and for developing
alternatives to traditional regulation.
COMMERCIAL MARKET SNAPSHOT
29.4%
HAVE CHOSEN A SUPPLIER
70.6%
HAVE NOT CHOSEN
CONSUMER CHOICE SOURCES
The DPU hosts www.mass.gov/dpu, a comprehensive website for customer
choice and education. This website allows utility consumers to acquire the most
reliable service at the lowest possible cost; to protect the public safety from
transportation and gas pipeline related accidents; to oversee the energy facilities
siting process; and to ensure that residential ratepayers’ rights are protected.
*Source: KEMA Restructuring Review, published April 2012.
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WHAT THE UTILITY SAYS ABOUT CHOOSING A SUPPLIER
National Grid:
“You have a choice in who supplies the energy that we
deliver to your house. We encourage you to consider all
available energy supply options and determine which
one will best meet your needs. Remember, if you choose
another supplier, we will continue to provide safe, reliable
energy delivery services and will respond in emergencies
and provide storm restoration services.”
http://www.nationalgridus.com/nantucket/home/energychoice/choice.asp
Eversource:
We encourage you to compare the Competitive Suppliers’
options to Basic Service. In addition to price, other service
offerings may be of value to you. The length and terms
of your contract with your supplier, as well as billing,
payment, deposit, warranty and other information are also
important to review.
If you choose a Competitive Power Supplier, the supplier’s
rates will go into effect on your next scheduled meter
reading date provided Eversource had notice of this
change at least two business days prior to your next
scheduled meter reading date. Your next scheduled
meter reading date appears on your electric bill.
Source:https://www.eversource.com/Content/wma/residential/myaccount/choose-competitive-alternate-supplier
CUSTOMER ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES
Government Assistance
Depending on a customer’s personal financial
circumstances, he or she may be receiving billing
assistance. A customer on a billing assistance program
should inquire with the utility or distribution company
before enrolling with Viridian.
Budget Billing
For Eversource and National Grid customers, budget
billing will not be applied to the supply portion of the bill if a
customer enrolls with Viridian.
Even though your customer will likely ask to see a rate-torate savings comparison, remember that any comparisons
are strictly estimates since Viridian’s rates, the utilities’
rates and the customer’s usage will vary.
SPECIAL BILLING REQUIREMENTS
Credit Check
In states that have an active POR (Purchase Of
Receivables) program, the utility pays independent
suppliers like Viridian for energy even if the customer does
not pay the utility. So in effect, POR is a built-in payment
guarantee. But Massachusetts does not have such a
program in place (non-POR), meaning the utility does
not guarantee that Viridian will be paid. Consequently, the
enrollment process for this market includes a soft credit
inquiry (either driver’s license information with date of birth,
or a Social Security number) to ensure that the customer
can be reliably depended upon to pay his or her energy
bill. You may assure your customer that this personal
information is 100% confidential, and will not be reused
for any other purpose. Further, because this process does
not appear on a credit report as an actual inquiry, it has no
effect on the customer’s credit score.
Those customers who do not meet the credit check
requirements will receive a letter from Viridian explaining
why their enrollment was not accepted.
ENROLLMENT AND BILLING
Before you approach a potential customer to enroll with
Viridian, you’ll want to make sure you know how to explain
enrollment. The following section will help you become
familiar with utility bills. You’ll see a utility bill sample and
where to find the information the customer will need for
enrollment. You’ll also see a sample bill that shows what
the customer’s bill will look like after enrolling with Viridian.
Comparing Rates
National Grid and both Eversource utilities set their Price
to compare twice a year. Viridian will always include the
utilities’ comparison rates, and how long they will be in
place, on our rate tools for easy comparison.
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National Grid Enrollment & Billing
ENROLLMENT
1
RATES
To enroll with Viridian, a National Grid customer
must provide the 10-digit Account Number,
located at the top of the utility bill.
2
National Grid has six different loadzones based
on transmission connections across the state. The
customer’s zone determines what rate they will
receive from Viridian. You can see the customer’s
zone at the top of Page 1 in the blue enrollment
information box.
3
Viridian’s rate would replace the basic service fixed
supply rate, found on Page 3 of the bill, under the
Supplier Services section.
4
Most customers who are eligible for Viridian’s
service will have Electric SC1 listed as their
generation rate. The rate code can be found on
Page 2, under Delivery Services.
For rate codes not listed, please contact the utility
to fully understand how choosing a supplier will
impact the customer’s service.
Page 2 of bill BEFORE enrolling with Viridian
1
2
4
Page 3 of bill BEFORE enrolling with Viridian
3
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POST ENROLLMENT
Utility Notification: National Grid does not send
customers a specific notification that they have enrolled
with an electric supplier.
After a customer has enrolled with Viridian, the
customer will continue to receive a bill from National
Grid as usual. A few things will look different.
1
Once the customer enrolls, Viridian will be listed as
the supplier under Supply Service on Page 3.
2
Viridian’s rate will be listed as the Energy Charge
on Page 3.
3
The customer will continue to pay the entire
amount to the utility.
Page 3 of bill AFTER enrolling with Viridian
1
2
Page 1 of bill AFTER enrolling with Viridian
3
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Eversource (NSTAR and WMECo) Enrollment & Billing
ENROLLMENT
RATES
1
To enroll with Viridian, an Eversource
customer must provide his or her 4-character
Customer Name Key, located at the top
4
Before a customer enrolls with a
third-party supplier, the supplier will be
listed as Eversource and the supplier
services detail will show as “Your
Electric Supplier” in the left-hand
column on Page 1 of the bill.
5
Most customers who are eligible for
Viridian’s service will have Electric SC1
listed as their generation rate. The rate
code can be found on Page 2, under
Delivery Services.
right-hand corner of the utility bill.
2
11-digit Account Number;
3
and 9-digit Service Reference Number.
Page 2 of bill BEFORE enrolling with Viridian
1
2
Page 3 of bill BEFORE enrolling with Viridian
3
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POST ENROLLMENT
Utility Notification: Eversource does not send
customers a specific notification that they have enrolled
with an electric supplier.
After a customer has enrolled with Viridian, the
customer will continue to receive a bill from Eversource
as usual. A few things will look different.
1
Once the customer enrolls, Viridian will be listed as the
2 supplier under Supply Service on Page 3.
Viridian’s rate will be listed as the Energy Charge on Page
3 3.
The customer will continue to pay the entire
amount to the utility.
Page 1 of bill AFTER enrolling with Viridian
3
Page 3 of bill AFTER enrolling with Viridian
1
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in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. MarketGuide_MA_043015.
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