I have already gotten a number of phone calls and emails about the letter that Somerville residents received today from Dynergy with the City of Somerville Emblem. The letter is legitimate. Briefly, the City of Somerville is taking advantage of a state program that allows the City to enter into a contract with an energy supplier at a rate that is less than the rate currently charged by NSTAR. The default rate from the City supplier will include a 5% Green Energy source. People can also opt into a 100% Green Energy source, or no Green Energy source. Also, people can opt out completely and stay with NSTAR or another supplier. These options all require a person to contact the supplier and you can opt out by sending the enclosed notice to the supplier. The Board was only notified of this about 12 days before mailing via an email and Ald. Katjana Ballantyne put in an order at the last Board meeting to have the Board updated. Because there did not appear to be any mass outreach to the public, I think this letter hit most of the public by surprise. As a result, I am following up on Ald. Ballantyne’s order to ask that the appropriate people appear before the Board at our next meeting to address this further as that meeting will be televised.