Mr. Michael Fallquist reports

VIRIDIAN ENERGY WANTS MASSACHUSETTS ENERGY CONSUMERS TO KNOW THEY HAVE A CHOICE

Massachusetts's largest utility, National Grid, recently received approval from the Board of Public Utilities to raise its fixed rate for electricity supply to nearly double the current rate. At the same time, utilities NStar and Western Massachusetts Electric Co. have warned that they too anticipate higher electricity prices this winter. While Massachusetts consumers may feel as though they are powerless against rising energy prices, there is a pragmatic solution that has the potential to benefit consumers for years to come.

Viridian Energy is making consumers in the Bay State aware of their energy options through a multimedia direct marketing campaign focused on choice. Since Massachusetts is a deregulated energy market, residents have the power to choose energy suppliers for their homes or businesses. Deregulation provides consumers with many options in terms of energy management, efficiency, renewable green energy products and price.

"Despite these very real and tangible benefits, however, only around 15 per cent of consumers in Massachusetts have seized the opportunity to make alternate energy choices," said Michael Fallquist, founder and chief executive officer of Viridian Energy. "Consumers don't have to accept whatever rate the utility is charging. Because Massachusetts has a deregulated energy market, the power is in the hands of consumers -- not the monopoly utility service provider. And I fundamentally believe that everyone wins when energy suppliers are forced to compete for business."

Recognizing that utilities in the northeast would see long-term impacts on their pricing from last winter's polar vortex, Viridian Energy now offers a long-term fixed-rate product to avoid the winter price spike. Viridian Energy's 3DOM fixed plan includes a potential 110-per-cent rebate if the customer pays more with Viridian.

In addition, hundreds of thousands of Viridian Energy customers have opted to use energy that is beneficial to the planet, as well as the household budget. Since 2009, Viridian customers have helped avoid more than five billion pounds of climate-changing carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere through the use of renewable energy from clean sources such as wind and hydro.

Viridian Energy also offers 100-per-cent-green-energy options including solar power. Solar power can help offset energy usage and protect homeowners from extreme changes in electricity costs such as the increase announced by National Grid last week. Through Viridian, many Massachusetts homeowners now have the opportunity to enjoy clean, affordable solar power with no hassle and free installation.

"If you put 100 people in a room and asked whether they would prefer to have a choice for a product or service or no choice, I'd suggest that 100 people would choose choice," Mr. Fallquist explains. "Given turbulent market conditions these days and our new normal of extreme weather, consumers must become more educated and exercise their energy options."

The new rates for National Grid take effect in November, which means its 1.3 million residential and business customers in Massachusetts will likely see an increase in their December energy bills.