MMWEC -

MMWEC Created

In 1969, with the workload of developing an independent public power supply expanding, the municipal utilities decided to create MMWEC, which started out as a private company managed by a public trust. In 1973, municipal utilities became full members of NEPOOL and acquired legislative authority to issue tax-exempt bonds, individually, to purchase shares in NEPOOL power plants. MMWEC coordinated the power supply planning and acquisition activities of the municipals. At the time, the law required each utility to obtain approval for and carry out individual bond issues, a process resulting in duplicated efforts and costly delays.

MMWEC Powers Expanded

This changed with the enactment of Chapter 775 of the Acts of 1975. Under this law, in May 1976, MMWEC became a non-profit, public corporation and political subdivision of the Commonwealth with the authority to issue tax-exempt revenue bonds to finance electric power projects on behalf of its members.

Using its statutory financing authority, MMWEC has issued more than $4.4 billion in bonds to finance and refinance its 720-megawatt ownership interest in five major generating plants, creating an independent power supply for Massachusetts municipal utilities.

Member Utilities

MMWEC Member utilities believe in Joint Action to achieve common goals. They deliver the full benefits of MMWEC programs and services to their customers, who enjoy some of the most competitive electric rates in New England. Members also are entitled to serve on the MMWEC Board of Directors and vote in the annual election of directors. Together, we are Public Energy Partners, striving to advance the interests and rights of public power.

Ashburnham Municipal Light Plant Boylston Municipal Light Department Chicopee Electric Light Department Groton Electric Light Department Holden Municipal Light Department Holyoke Gas & Electric Department Hull Municipal Lighting Plant Ipswich Municipal Light Department Mansfield Municipal Electric Department Marblehead Municipal Light Department

Paxton Municipal Light Department Peabody Municipal Light Plant Princeton Municipal Light Department Russell Municipal Light Department Shrewsbury Electric & Cable Operations South Hadley Electric Light Department Sterling Municipal Light Department Templeton Municipal Light & Water Plant Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department West Boylston Municipal Light Plant

 Members of the cooperative in 2004 entered into agreements to purchase the entire output of the Berkshire Wind Project, but In 2007 decided to pursue outright ownership and to complete development of the project. MMWEC and the Princeton Municipal Light Department created a similar cooperative last year to develop a 3-MW wind project in Princeton, Mass. The municipal utility members of the cooperative are based in the communities of Ashburnham, Boylston, Groton, Holden, Hull, Ipswich, Marblehead, Paxton, Peabody, Shrewsbury, Sterling, Templeton, Wakefield and West Boylston.




MMWEC, Municipal Utilities Awarded Energy Efficient Street Lighting Grant LUDLOW, Mass. -- December 14, 2016 -- Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC) has received a $2.9 million grant under the state Department of Energy Resources’ LED Street Lighting Accelerator Program on behalf of 16 member municipal light departments. The grant will help pay for the cost of new energy efficient LED street light fixtures, long-life photoelectric controllers and wireless controllers for the fixtures. The grant is part of $11.4 million in LED Street Lighting Accelerator Program funding awarded this week by the Baker-Polito Administration to more than 30 communities. The participating MMWEC member municipal light departments are located in Boylston, Chicopee, Holden, Holyoke, Hull, Ipswich, Mansfield, Marblehead, Paxton, Peabody, Princeton, Shrewsbury, South Hadley, Templeton, Wakefield and West Boylston.


posted by Jeff Bennett