Smart Energy Solutions Pricing Plans

When electricity is in high demand and the supply is constrained, typically during hot summer days, National Grid will call a Conservation Day to help control load and ensure the highest possible level of service to customers. Using the most current forecasts of electricity demand for the next day per the New England Independent System Operator (NY ISO), combined with the forecasted local weather in Worcester, MA, National Grid can determine when there is likely to be a strain on the electrical system, and will in turn schedule a Conservation Day for the next day. During certain hours on Conservation Days, denoted as Peak Event hours, customers are prompted to use less electricity to help manage demand on the system. There can be up to 30 Conservation Days called per year.

Peak Event hours are specifically designated hours (up to 8 hours) on Conservation Days when customers will be prompted to take action to conserve energy in order to help lessen the demand on the system, as well as control their electricity costs and save money. This can be done by shifting energy-intensive activities, like using an electric oven or doing laundry, to hours outside of Peak Event hours.

It depends on the pricing plan you are enrolled in – either Smart Rewards Pricing or Conservation Day Rebate. Descriptions of both pricing plans are provided below. Note that if you did not actively choose Smart Rewards Pricing or Conservation Day Rebate during the enrollment period, you were automatically enrolled in Smart Rewards Pricing.

With this plan, you pay lower rates for your energy usage during the day (yellow) and even lower rates during nights and weekends (blue). During Peak Event hours (red) on Conservation Days (up to 30 per year), your rates will increase, but you can counteract this increase by saving energy during those hours.

National Grid offers bill protection to customers who remain on the Smart Rewards Pricing plan for at least 12 months. Bill protection guarantees that the amount you spend on electricity will not be higher than what you would pay on the Basic Service Rate. Thus, if your annual electric bill while on the Smart Rewards Pricing plan is more than it would have been on your Basic Service Rate, National Grid will provide you with a credit for the difference at the end of the year. However, if you spend less on the Smart Rewards Pricing plan, you keep all the savings!

If you are on the Conservation Day rebate plan, your rates will continue at the current National Grid basic service rate (dotted line) for all hours of the year, including during Peak Event hours (red) on Conservation Days. During Peak Event hours, you will have the opportunity to earn a bill credit when you reduce your energy usage below what you normally use. You will receive this credit on your bill in the month following the Conservation Day

That’s up to you. National Grid will notify all customers the day prior to and the day of the Conservation Day via your choice of phone, email and/or text. To update your communication preferences, sign in to www.worcestersmart.com and click the settings link in the upper right to manage your notification preferences, or contact us at (855) 377-7627 and we will be happy to assist you.

You can visit the Worcester Smart portal at www.worcestersmart.com to monitor your real-time usage during Peak Event hours. By shifting your electrical load to times outside of Peak Event hours, you can realize significant savings. Examples of load-shifting activities during Peak Event hours include delaying the washing and drying of your clothes, cooking food in an electric oven, running the air conditioner at a high level, and using the dishwasher. The WorcesterSmart portal also list additional energy-saving tips to help you save even more energy, and information on rebates and incentives for energy efficient products and appliances are available at www.MassSave.com.

National Grid also offers a variety of technology options at no cost to help you manage your usage and ultimately your bill. Visit the Smart Energy Solutions Technology Page to see what technology options you may qualify for.

Please note that a no-cost “My National Grid” profile is required for installation of the technology options, including the WorcesterSmart portal. If you do not already have a profile, have your electric account handy and visit www.ngrid.com/smartprofile to create a profile.