Power move: CMLP to tie rates to peak-use hours

New year, no rate hike — sort of. 

As electricity costs spike elsewhere, the Light Board has adopted a set of “revenue-neutral” fees for 2026. 

The Acton Municipal Light Plant will switch to “time of day” billing in April, though, and this could cause some customers’ bills to jump.

Light plant Director Jason Bulger says the program will more accurately reflect the actual cost of power at a given time. It’s also a sustainability effort meant to discourage use during peak hours when the grid pulls from less efficient power plants. 

“If we can all collectively reduce that peak, then this power becomes a lot cleaner,” Bulger said during one presentation. 

While backers tout its perks, town staff have, at times, struggled to keep up with this and other changes.

How to save

Time-of-day pricing will divide rates into three categories. 

• “Peak” hours run weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m. Electricity will be most expensive during these windows. 
• “Super-off-peak” use offers the steepest discount daily from 1 to 5 a.m.
• “Off-peak” use carries a slightly smaller discount during all other hours. 

Ratepayers will get lower rates across categories in the spring and fall when demand is lower.

Concordians can save money by running large appliances — such as washers, dryers, and dishwashers — and charging electric vehicles during off-peak hours. 

Officials plan to phase in the time-of-day system to minimize the potential shock to ratepayers. In 2027, the peak price will go up, and off-peak power will get a deeper discount.

People can opt out by calling CMLP customer service at (978) 318-3101, but the flat rate will be 4% higher than the 2025 figure.

“We highly recommend people do research” and talk to light plant staff before opting out, Bulger said in an email.

Using some electricity during peak hours won’t automatically lead to a bill increase, as off-peak discounts might offset the effect. People who sufficiently power down during peak hours could see smaller bills compared with 2025.

The light plant is exempting commercial properties — for now — over fears that businesses might struggle to adjust. 

2026 time-of-day pricing

Time of day | Standard months | Shoulder seasons*

Peak
(Weekdays: 3- 7 p.m.) | $0.30315 per kWh | $0.25379 per kWh

Super off-peak
(Daily: 1-5 a.m.) | $0.20117 | $0.19644

Off-peak
(All other hours) | $0.20432 | $0.20230

Rollout hiccups

The light plant handles Acton’s utility billing. The team has managed overlapping changes to the solid waste and recycling program and a new stormwater utility fee. 

Minutes from a September Light Board meeting show this was “straining staff capacity.”

The town shifted its solid waste and recycling billing from a six-month subscription to a monthly fee as scheduled in November. 

Leaders delayed the time-of-day rollout from January to April. 

Officials announced via an email blast that stormwater billing would start in December. Staff walked that statement back in emails to The Acton Bridge. Stormwater fees are being rolled out this month.

Other communities with municipal light plants have implemented time-of-day structures like CMLP’s. Groton officials, in a 2024 summary, said communication was key to their success. 

Hearing the sustainability argument, Janet Rothrock and Beth Bryant of the Acton Climate Action Network told The Bridge that they think this will be good for the climate.

CMLP is running a public relations blitz and will present during a ConcordCAN session on January 20 that starts at 8 a.m. at First Parish Church.

Bryant urged Concordians to attend.

“It’s helpful to know how to live our lives around these rates,” she said at a separate community meeting.