Burlington Energy Program Still Saving Money Despite Bill Shock
Electrical bills went up this January. But, explains the town, most residents are still saving money with municipal aggregation.
Burlington officials recently addressed concerns about higher electricity bills and provided an update on the town's municipal aggregation program.
Many Burlington residents were auto-enrolled in the town's municipal aggregation program in October, resulting in a lower per-kilowatt-hour charge on the supply portion of their energy bill; many others are getting their electrical supply from other alternative providers. But, as financial analyst Sam Hockenbury clarified, the recent spike in electric bills was due to changes in Eversource's delivery rates, which are not included in these programs.
The delivery rates, which cover Eversource's infrastructure, maintenance, and operational costs such as salaries and transmission improvements, increased by nearly 2 cents per kilowatt-hour in January. This increase applied to all customers, regardless of their participation in the aggregation or alternative provider programs.
Hockenbury noted that from October to January, the aggregation rate was approximately two cents per kilowatt-hour lower than Eversourceâs basic service, equating to roughly $12 in savings per 600 kilowatt-hours of usage. However, as of February 1, Eversourceâs supply rate has moved closer to the townâs rate, though the municipal aggregation program still provides a slight advantage. This rate of 13.229 cents per kilowatt-hour is locked in until October 2026, offering long-term price stability compared to Eversource's rates, which change every February and August.
Residents are encouraged to evaluate their energy bills carefully, as fluctuating usage patterns can make month-to-month comparisons misleading. Hockenbury advised that a year-over-year comparison, such as looking at January 2024 vs. January 2025, provides a more accurate reflection of cost trends than comparing consecutive months. Officials expect to receive the first quarterly report on the aggregation program's performance by early April, which will provide concrete savings figures for Burlington residents.
Hockenbury acknowledged that reading the electrical bill is complicated and can be frustrating. He encouraged residents with questions about their energy bills to contact Town Hall for assistance.
