A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number #22-81, related to improving marketing and communication efforts and outreach for the Cambridge Community Electricity (CCE) program

C I T Y O F C A M B R I D G E Community Development Department 344 Broadway Cambridge, MA 02139 Voice: [phone removed] Fax: [phone removed] TTY: [phone removed] www.cambridgema.gov IRAM FAROOQ Assistant City Manager for Community Development SANDRA CLARKE Deputy Director Chief of Administration KHALIL MOGASSABI Deputy Director Chief Planner To: Yi-An Huang, City Manager From: Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development Date: February 2, 2023 Re: Awaiting Report #22-81, dated November 14, 2022, related to improving marketing and communication efforts and outreach for the Cambridge Community Electricity (CCE) program In response to the above referenced Policy Order, we submit the following: CDD and the Public Information Office will coordinate a communication campaign to inform people about the more cost-effective electricity supply options with higher amounts of renewable energy that are available through the CCE program and actions that support Cambridge’s sustainability goals: 1. Remind all residents to check that they are enrolled in the Cambridge Community Electricity Program, the City’s aggregation, and encourage enrollment in the 100% Green Plus Renewable Energy option. 2. Ask residents to also take one additional sustainability action, including: a. Get a Mass Save Energy Assessment to identify energy efficiency upgrades in their home. b. Enroll in Community Solar to reduce their electricity bills with solar credits from shared solar installations. The 100% Green Plus option will be promoted in the February 2023 Cambridge Life Magazine, which will be focused on climate and sustainability education and actions. Cambridge Life Magazine is mailed to all Cambridge households. In addition, 100% Green Plus will be directly marketed to all residential electricity accounts through a mailer. The direct mailing will be re-enforced with recurring social media and in the City’s Daily Update emails. It is our goal to achieve a 5% increase in 100% Green Plus enrollments in FY23 and a total of 10% enrollment increase by the end of the calendar year. More resource intensive outreach methods such as targeted canvassing and additional mailings can be implemented in the latter half of 2023 if necessary to achieve the stated goals. We will also seek to increase the amount of low-income electricity customers in the Cambridge Community Electricity program, by focusing outreach to these community members through the City’s non-profit affordable housing providers, partnering with the Fuel Assistance program and creating specific messaging that alerts customers that

2 they may be overpaying for electricity. To help customers understand their bills and their current supplier we will promote the Utility Bill Helpline as a way for residents to get assistance getting out of costly third-party electricity contracts.