ES5103 t1_ir3om7x wrote on October 5, 2022 at 2:28 AM

Could anyone ELI5 the difference in options “desired product”.. Basic, No Extra Renewable Energy , 50% Local Green, 50% Extra Renewable Energy, 100% Local Green, 100% Extra Renewable Energy..? Are these sources where you’re getting your energy/electricity from ?

OurLordGaben t1_ir43xmx wrote on October 5, 2022 at 4:50 AM

So MA requires at least 20% of electric generation be renewable, and it goes up 2% YOY. So basic, you’re getting 20% renewables (which is the law). Green you get 50% more, so 70% total of your energy usage is renewable, and the top tier you’ll get 100% plus the 20% that is already mandated by law.

trahoots t1_ir54sml wrote on October 5, 2022 at 12:33 PM

> you’ll get 100% plus the 20% that is already mandated by law.

Wow, 120% renewable!

xKimmothy t1_ir3rrdm wrote on October 5, 2022 at 2:54 AM

Yes. Each company can offer separate rates for different sources. You can sign up for a supply that has different amounts of energy from different sources. There may be documentation about what renewables they use (wind, solar, hydro, etc.)

Twombls t1_ir7ovgu wrote on October 5, 2022 at 10:55 PM

The power you actually receive is still the same power from the same mix of sources. It just changes who your main provider pays for the power you buy.

Twombls t1_ir7niyw wrote on October 5, 2022 at 10:44 PM

Kind of, its who your main provider essentially pays for the electricity you "buy" from them. Its not like they physically route different cables to your house on a separate grid when you buy power from a different source. Under the retail choice energy market stuff its all really weird and theoretical. All the providers are doing really is buying and selling the electricity like stocks.

No matter who you chose you are still getting the same power as your neighbors.

The whole renewable energy choice thing is really just greenwashing they use to sell deregulation to people. In reality it has little to no actual effect on the power you receive. Unless of course everyone chose the renewable energy provider. But if everyone is collectively choosing the renewable energy you might as well have a town commission that does it for you as a full time job. And is able to negotiate better rates. 🤔 hmm I think I just invented public utilities.