WHAT S INSIDE UTILITIES SERVED. Market Guide Massachusetts. National Grid Eversource (NSTAR)

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1 Market Guide Massachusetts ELECTRIC National Grid Eversource (NSTAR) Eversource (WMECo) National Grid & WMECo UTILITIES SERVED National Grid Eversource (NSTAR) Eversource (WMECo) WHAT S INSIDE Market Information National Grid Enrollment & Billing Eversource (NSTAR & WMECo) Enrollment & Billing APRIL 05

2 Market Information VIRIDIAN S HISTORY In June of 0, Viridian entered Massachusetts, making it our seventh market. We began serving both Eversource (NSTAR & WMECo) and National Grid utilities. MARKET SNAPSHOT* In Massachusetts, only % of residential customers statewide have chosen a third-party supplier. Specifically, out of the,0,569 eligible National Grid customers, 7% have chosen a third-party supplier. In the Eversource markets, 0% of the 996,57 eligible customers have chosen a third-party supplier. In the commercial sector, 9,64 of 6, eligible electricity accounts have chosen a third-party supplier, representing 9.4% of the market. RESIDENTIAL MARKET SNAPSHOT 87% HAVE NOT CHOSEN % HAVE CHOSEN A SUPPLIER LOCAL LANGUAGE An alternate retail supplier is commonly referred to as a Competitive Power Supplier or Competitive Supplier by the utilities in Massachusetts. COMMERCIAL MARKET SNAPSHOT REGULATORS The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) oversees all energy activity. DPU is responsible for the oversight of investor-owned electric power, natural gas and water utilities in the Commonwealth and for developing alternatives to traditional regulation. CONSUMER CHOICE SOURCES The DPU hosts a comprehensive website for customer choice and education. This website allows utility consumers to acquire the most reliable service at the lowest possible cost; to protect the public safety from transportation and gas pipeline related accidents; to oversee the energy facilities siting process; and to ensure that residential ratepayers rights are protected. 70.6% HAVE NOT CHOSEN 9.4% HAVE CHOSEN A SUPPLIER *Source: KEMA Restructuring Review, published April 0. // VIRIDIAN MASSACHUSETTS MARKET GUIDE

3 WHAT THE UTILITY SAYS ABOUT CHOOSING A SUPPLIER National Grid: You have a choice in who supplies the energy that we deliver to your house. We encourage you to consider all available energy supply options and determine which one will best meet your needs. Remember, if you choose another supplier, we will continue to provide safe, reliable energy delivery services and will respond in emergencies and provide storm restoration services. Eversource: We encourage you to compare the Competitive Suppliers options to Basic Service. In addition to price, other service offerings may be of value to you. The length and terms of your contract with your supplier, as well as billing, payment, deposit, warranty and other information are also important to review. If you choose a Competitive Power Supplier, the supplier s rates will go into effect on your next scheduled meter reading date provided Eversource had notice of this change at least two business days prior to your next scheduled meter reading date. Your next scheduled meter reading date appears on your electric bill. Source: CUSTOMER ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES Government Assistance Depending on a customer s personal financial circumstances, he or she may be receiving billing assistance. A customer on a billing assistance program should inquire with the utility or distribution company before enrolling with Viridian. Budget Billing For Eversource and National Grid customers, budget billing will not be applied to the supply portion of the bill if a customer enrolls with Viridian. Even though your customer will likely ask to see a rate-torate savings comparison, remember that any comparisons are strictly estimates since Viridian s rates, the utilities rates and the customer s usage will vary. SPECIAL BILLING REQUIREMENTS Credit Check In states that have an active POR (Purchase Of Receivables) program, the utility pays independent suppliers like Viridian for energy even if the customer does not pay the utility. So in effect, POR is a built-in payment guarantee. But Massachusetts does not have such a program in place (non-por), meaning the utility does not guarantee that Viridian will be paid. Consequently, the enrollment process for this market includes a soft credit inquiry (either driver s license information with date of birth, or a Social Security number) to ensure that the customer can be reliably depended upon to pay his or her energy bill. You may assure your customer that this personal information is 00% confidential, and will not be reused for any other purpose. Further, because this process does not appear on a credit report as an actual inquiry, it has no effect on the customer s credit score. Those customers who do not meet the credit check requirements will receive a letter from Viridian explaining why their enrollment was not accepted. ENROLLMENT AND BILLING Before you approach a potential customer to enroll with Viridian, you ll want to make sure you know how to explain enrollment. The following section will help you become familiar with utility bills. You ll see a utility bill sample and where to find the information the customer will need for enrollment. You ll also see a sample bill that shows what the customer s bill will look like after enrolling with Viridian. Comparing Rates National Grid and both Eversource utilities set their Price to compare twice a year. Viridian will always include the utilities comparison rates, and how long they will be in place, on our rate tools for easy comparison. VIRIDIAN MASSACHUSETTS MARKET GUIDE //

4 National Grid Enrollment & Billing ENROLLMENT RATES To enroll with Viridian, a National Grid customer must provide the 0-digit Account Number, National Grid has six different loadzones based on transmission connections across the state. The located at the top of the utility bill. customer s zone determines what rate they will receive from Viridian. You can see the customer s zone at the top of Page in the blue enrollment information box. Viridian s rate would replace the basic service fixed supply rate, found on Page of the bill, under the Supplier Services section. 4 Most customers who are eligible for Viridian s service will have Electric SC listed as their generation rate. The rate code can be found on Page, under Delivery Services. For rate codes not listed, please contact the utility to fully understand how choosing a supplier will impact the customer s service. Page of bill BEFORE enrolling with Viridian 4 Page of bill BEFORE enrolling with Viridian 4 // VIRIDIAN MASSACHUSETTS MARKET GUIDE

5 POST ENROLLMENT Utility Notification: National Grid does not send customers a specific notification that they have enrolled with an electric supplier. After a customer has enrolled with Viridian, the customer will continue to receive a bill from National Grid as usual. A few things will look different. Once the customer enrolls, Viridian will be listed as the supplier under Supply Service on Page. Viridian s rate will be listed as the Energy Charge on Page. The customer will continue to pay the entire amount to the utility. Page of bill AFTER enrolling with Viridian Page of bill AFTER enrolling with Viridian VIRIDIAN MASSACHUSETTS MARKET GUIDE // 5

6 Eversource (NSTAR and WMECo) Enrollment & Billing ENROLLMENT RATES To enroll with Viridian, an Eversource customer must provide his or her 4-character Customer Name Key, located at the top 4 Before a customer enrolls with a third-party supplier, the supplier will be listed as Eversource and the supplier services detail will show as Your Electric Supplier in the left-hand column on Page of the bill. 5 Most customers who are eligible for Viridian s service will have Electric SC listed as their generation rate. The rate code can be found on Page, under Delivery Services. right-hand corner of the utility bill. -digit Account Number; and 9-digit Service Reference Number. Page of bill BEFORE enrolling with Viridian Page of bill BEFORE enrolling with Viridian 6 // VIRIDIAN MASSACHUSETTS MARKET GUIDE

7 POST ENROLLMENT Utility Notification: Eversource does not send customers a specific notification that they have enrolled with an electric supplier. After a customer has enrolled with Viridian, the customer will continue to receive a bill from Eversource as usual. A few things will look different. Once the customer enrolls, Viridian will be listed as the supplier under Supply Service on Page. Viridian s rate will be listed as the Energy Charge on Page. The customer will continue to pay the entire amount to the utility. Page of bill AFTER enrolling with Viridian Page of bill AFTER enrolling with Viridian VIRIDIAN MASSACHUSETTS MARKET GUIDE // 7

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