Massachusetts legislators are considering a bill to enact a first-in-the-nation ban on competitive suppliers selling electricity. Gov. Maura Healey, Attorney General Andrea Campbell and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu all support the bill. But some say the third-party electric supply industry just needs more regulation.
There is one notable exception here, which is community suppliers. Lots of cities/towns in MA (more every year) and initiating programs that are basically group buys for the whole town. These plans never claim to guarantee savings but because they have much greater bargaining power they have so far saved everyone lots of money. The two key differences from these shady af private suppliers are that the community programs communicate really transparently (they are required to notify everyone when the plan is starting and also BEFORE any rate changes) and that you can leave at anytime without consequence.
Edit to add: because these are community programs and not private, profit-focused companies, they are obligated to pass along savings directly to the consumer, rather than adding bogus fees to make up the difference and skim off the top.