Letter to the Editor: It’s Time for a More Efficient RMLD

My name is David Talbot and I seek your vote on April 2 for RMLD commissioner. I’d like to help provide you with a cleaner and more efficient electricity system.  RMLD provides cheap prices and reliable service, but we can do more—and save money in the process.

My wife Julie and I have lived in town 18 years and have three children in the Reading schools.  I’m chief correspondent at MIT Technology Review magazine, where I’ve been covering cutting-edge energy issues for years. I’ve become impressed by how much more we can do locally. 

 1: I’ll push to step up efficiency efforts -- on all fronts -- to cut waste.

RMLD households use double the electricity as 40 years ago. Energy waste is a needless drain on ratepayers’ wallets, as well as a national security and environmental problem. RMLD should revamp efficiency and rebate programs as recommended in the recent draft Local Energy Action Plan, prepared by a regional planning organization at the RMLD towns’ request.

2: I’ll advocate far wider installation of “time of use” meters and other smart measures.

Only 300 of the more than 26,000 RMLD customers have installed voluntary meters that allow for much lower rates at night, mornings and weekends; and higher ones during mid-day hours. These meters can lower ratepayer bills and—by incentivizing customers to reduce mid-day consumption—also reduce RMLD’s reliance on buying expensive electricity from fossil fuel plants at peak times.  These meters are a triple-win—helping you, cutting costs at RMLD, and reducing pollution--but current leadership at RMLD has not effectively promoted them. (Call 781-944-1340 and ask for one today.)

3: I’ll push for RMLD to actively promote solar power installations.

At its founding, RMLD produced electricity locally. We can return to local generation by promoting and facilitating more private, cost-effective solar electricity installations. Prices on these technologies have plunged in recent years. And they replace expensive, peak-hour fossil-fuel electricity. RMLD can do much more than it’s doing now to clean up its electricity supply.

All these measures will help ratepayers—and reduce peak stresses on our local grid. More important, these measures also help ratepayers’ kids and grandkids, by giving them a cleaner and most efficient electricity system.

Thank you for your vote.

David Talbot

75 Linden Street