Starting in March, Newton electric customers will have the option to get some or all of their power from renewable sources through a green energy contract signed by the city’s mayor late last month, according to a city statement.
The Newton Power Choice municipal aggregation program allows the city to choose the supplier for electric customers, rather than having the local utility buy the electricity, the statement said.
With the deal in place, the local utility in Newton — Eversource — will continue to deliver electricity to customers, bill them, and provide customer support, the statement said.
“The difference is that Newton now selects the supplier of the electricity for customers rather than leaving it up to the utility,” the city said in the statement.
Along with Newton, about 140 Massachusetts communities have municipal aggregation programs, the statement said.
Through the 22-month contract signed by Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, the city said that at least 60 percent of the electricity to customers will be from local renewable sources, such as solar and wind, according to the statement.
“This is the most significant step we can take to reduce the carbon footprint of Newton,” Fuller said in the statement.
Newton customers also can opt out of the Power Choice program at any time, the statement said.
Customers also can choose to receive electricity from 100 percent renewable sources, the city said.
Electric rates for individual customers will vary depending on the program they choose.
