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importantly, energy efficiency. While the incoming Report of the administration may decide to support the NESCOE Cape Light Compact proposal, several federal approvals would still be needed before it could be enacted. Even if these approvals were awarded, it would still likely take To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the several years before a major expansion in pipeline Citizens of the Town of Mashpee: capacity could be completed. "It is a pleasure to serve on the Governing Board This means that prices are likely to remain high for Cape Light Compact. The Compact is a key player over the next several years. Pricing periods covering in implementing a successful energy efficiency program the first half of the year, which includes the most in Mashpee and across the Cape and Vineyard while expensive months, are likely to stay very high, while assuring affordable energy for our residents and second-half pricing will likely be slightly lower. Gas businesses. I look forward to continuing this important pipeline owner Spectra is pursuing a modest expansion work on behalf of the Town of Mashpee."—Tom Mayo, of its existing Algonquin pipeline,but the limited size Mashpee Representative of the project is not likely to significantly impact prices, Cape Light Compact is an award-winning energy and won't be completed before the end of 2016 at the earliest. services organization operated by the 21 towns and two counties on Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard. The In 2014,Cape Light Compact provided energy to Compact's mission is to serve its 200,000 customers residents and businesses in accordance with a through the delivery of proven energy efficiency competitive electricity supply contract negotiated by the programs, effective consumer advocacy, competitive Compact with ConEdison Solutions. For 11 months, electricity supply and green power options. For more the Compact's price was lower than NSTAR's. The information,visit www.caoelightcoml2act.org. Compact also issued an RFP for a new supplier contract Power Supply starting in December 2014. The contract was awarded Pricing in 2014 continued to be driven by regional to ConEdison Solutions for residential customers and natural gas concerns. The winter Zen by r14 saw NextEra Energy Services for commercial and industrial an even more pronounced price spike than was customers. As of the most recent count, the Compact had approximately 7,400 experienced during the preceding winter, as cold energy supply. electric accounts in the Town of Mashpee on its energ weather drove increased demand for natural gas for heating and electricity. This resulted in periodic Consumer Advocacy constraints on the transmission used to transport natural Since 1997, Cape Light Compact has advocated gas into New England, driving natural gas and for the ratepayers of Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard electricity prices to record highs. While oil units were at the local, state, and federal level. In 2014, the dispatched to help ensure reliability in the face of Compact focused much of its advocacy on grid limited gas supplies, this further contributed to modernization and time-varying rates. Both issues will increased electricity costs. have far-reaching impacts on customers on the Cape, The repeated winter price spikes led to regional affecting reliability, the cost of electricity and how prices are set, and the ability of our systems to conversations about how to resolve the issue. The six accommodate increasing amounts of renewable energy. New England governors, through the New England In March of 2014, the Compact also submitted to the States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE),discussed Department of Public Utilities revisions to its a proposal to procure additional gas pipeline capacity Aggregation Plan, a document originally submitted by adding a fee onto the rates of all New England around the time of the Compact's inception. The electricity consumers. While the proposal generally Compact is currently awaiting a final order from the received consensus from all six administrations, Department. Massachusetts,following the failure of several Patrick administration-supported energy bills to pass,withdrew its support of the plan. Instead, the Commonwealth chose to focus on other potential solutions, most 83