News Flash

READING, MA – The Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) and the RMLD Board of Commissioners (Board) announced that Michael O’Neill will serve as interim general manager (GM), effective June 30, 2025. O’Neill was the standout among many well-qualified candidates, with a career spanning more than two decades in the electric utility industry. O’Neill brings deep expertise to the role, having previously held key positions at National Grid and Eversource and serving as the RMLD director of operations since January 2024. 

"As we begin the search for a new GM, we’re fortunate to have Michael take on the interim role," said RMLD Board of Commissioners Chair Pam Daskalakis. "His industry expertise and extensive hands-on knowledge of RMLD operations will be an asset during this time of transition. The Board is looking forward to working with him over the next few months."  

"I am excited for the opportunity to lead RMLD during this transition," said RMLD Interim General Manager Michael O’Neill. "I have full confidence in our team and look forward to providing steady leadership and continuity while the Board conducts its search for a permanent general manager."  

O’Neill holds a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology, as well as several certifications that underscore his expertise in the utility industry. Throughout his extensive career he has held various leadership roles including electric overhead/underground manager at National Grid and electric construction supervisor for station/substation & electric operations construction at Eversource. As RMLD director of operations, O’Neill has played a pivotal role in successfully steering RMLD's operating tactics, focusing on safety, facilitating strategic project management, and building positive team culture.  

The Board is moving forward with the search process to identify a candidate with the appropriate expertise to lead one of the largest municipal utilities in Massachusetts. The Board anticipates that the GM search will span four to six months. During this transition, RMLD will continue to deliver on its mission to provide customers with reliable, low-cost, and increasingly non-carbon energy in Lynnfield Center, North Reading, Reading, and Wilmington. 

Any questions may be directed to the Board. 

READING, MA – The Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) today announced that General Manager Gregory J. Phipps has tendered his resignation from RMLD, effective June 27, 2025. 

"The Board would like to extend its gratitude for Greg's leadership, vision, accomplishments, and commitment to RMLD's mission," said Pam Daskalakis, Chair, Board of Commissioners. "Greg and the Board are working together to ensure a smooth and successful transition."  

As RMLD’s General Manager (GM) reports to the Board of Commissioners (Board), the Board will begin the process of identifying a candidate with the appropriate expertise to manage one of the largest municipal utilities in Massachusetts, including naming an interim GM within the coming weeks. Throughout this transition, RMLD will continue to provide the reliable electric service that its customers have come to expect across its territory, serving customers in Reading, North Reading, Wilmington and Lynnfield Center. Any questions may be directed to the Board.

READING, MA – Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) officially commissioned the River Park Energy Storage System at 500 Riverpark Drive, North Reading, on May 13, 2025, with a ribbon cutting and networking event. Local legislators, town officials, and industry partners were in attendance to celebrate this important milestone for RMLD customers.

The River Park Energy Storage system will improve RMLD’s grid resiliency and provide peak demand reduction. Peak demand reduction helps decrease RMLD’s transmission and capacity costs, which represent nearly 40% of the RMLD cost structure. This 10 MW system will also support RMLD’s ongoing climate initiatives, reducing reliance on high-emitting peaking power plants during times of highest demand, so that RMLD is better equipped for a non-carbon future.

“The current energy market is fluid and dynamic. RMLD proactively seeks innovative solutions. Adding more energy storage within RMLD territory provides added control over peak demand and supports system reliability. RMLD is working on an additional 10MW system slated for 2026 and further exploring longer-duration systems for the future.” says Gregory J. Phipps, general manager of RMLD.

The River Park Energy Storage System is the third RMLD energy storage facility in our territory and boasts a 10 MW capacity and a half-acre footprint on the Teradyne campus. State-of-the-art safety features include fire detection and suppression systems, an onsite Knox Box, and a 24-hour monitored fire alarm system.

This energy storage system embodies the RMLD commitment to innovative energy strategies and to taking clear action in a dynamic energy market. RMLD collaborated with Kearsarge Energy to bring this innovative project to life. The partnership between Kearsarge Energy, RMLD, Teradyne, and local entities such as the North Reading Fire Department contributed to the efficiency and expediency of this vital project.

“Kearsarge Energy is pleased to collaborate with RMLD to construct and operate a 10MW/20 MWh Energy Storage System that is a unique clean energy solution for reducing transmission and capacity costs without affecting reliability. RMLD and the town of North Reading, and Teradyne, as site host, have all been excellent partners for the last three years and we are pleased to complete this project now -- when both energy costs and demand are projected to increase sharply,” said Andrew Bernstein, managing partner at Kearsarge Energy.

Among those in attendance to mark this milestone were key state legislators Senator Bruce Tarr, North Reading; Representative Richard Haggerty, Reading; Representative Brad Jones, Lynnfield, North Reading, Reading; Representative David Robertson, Wilmington; and Legislative Aide Amari Gaston representing Senator Brendan Crighton, Lynnfield. RMLD was presented with official citations from both the Massachusetts Senate and Massachusetts House of Representatives to commemorate this significant resource launch.

“The Reading Municipal Light Department’s new River Park Energy Storage System in North Reading is a powerful example of innovation driving progress,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-North Reading). “This new facility is proof positive that municipal light departments can move our state's clean energy agenda forward, with benefits including shaving costs during peak demand periods and making power from renewable energy sources consistently available.”

"The River Park Energy Storage System is an innovative solution that lowers costs for customers and supports climate sustainability goals," said Senator Brendan Crighton (D-Lynnfield). "Along with my colleagues, I'm proud to support projects that look to the future of the energy landscape while maintaining affordable cost of services."

“The Reading Municipal Light Department has a long history of providing safe and reliable service to meet the energy needs of its customers in Reading, North Reading, Lynnfield Center and Wilmington,” said House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-Lynnfield, North Reading, Reading). “The new River Park Energy Storage System will further enhance the RMLD’s ability to continue to offer dependable and competitively priced electricity to its customers during peak demand periods while also expanding its efforts to promote the use of more environmentally friendly, non-carbon-based energy sources.”

"This energy storage project represents an important investment in our region's energy infrastructure," said Representative Richard Haggerty (D-Reading). "RMLD continues to demonstrate foresight by addressing our current energy needs and planning for tomorrow's challenges. It's projects like this that help increase grid reliability, reduce costs for residents and businesses while increasingly storing clean energy for our communities. It's great to see RMLD, Kearsarge Energy, and local stakeholders come together, showcasing how collaborative efforts can deliver real solutions that benefit all residents across the communities RMLD serves."

Since 1894, RMLD has been a beacon of energy innovation and excellence. RMLD’s leadership in public power persists as it continues to exceed the Commonwealth’s electrification goals and successfully serves the communities of Lynnfield Center, North Reading, Reading, and Wilmington, with reliable, low-cost, and increasingly non-carbon energy.

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About Kearsarge EnergyKearsarge Energy is a full-service renewable energy developer committed to building a more sustainable world. Kearsarge Energy specializes in developing and managing high-quality solar and energy storage projects, combining technical expertise with innovative financing solutions. With a focus on long-term value, they strive to create lasting benefits for communities, partners, and all project stakeholders.

READING, MA – The Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) Citizens’ Advisory Board and Board of Commissioners approved an average rate increase of 6.6% effective April 1, 2025. RMLD continues to prioritize reliable and low-cost energy amid increasing costs in a dynamic energy market. This rate adjustment supports major capital investments and addresses rising regional transmission costs.

RMLD customer bills are 50-60% lower than those of Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs) in Massachusetts. A typical RMLD monthly bill is forecasted to be approximately $161 in 2025. Comparable IOU bills were typically $262 at Eversource, $266 at National Grid and $355 at Unitil in 2024. (Source: MMWEC 2024 Rate Comparisons)

An average RMLD residential customer using approximately 800 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month can expect their monthly bill to increase by approximately $9.50. Approximately $5 (half) of the increase can be attributed to increasing power supply costs which are directly passed on to customers with no additional fee. Public power remains the most reliable and cost-effective energy supply and is better for electricity customers.

Beginning in April 2025, customer bills are expected to increase by the following percentages for each rate class: 6.3% for residential customers, 6.2% for residential time-of-use customers, 7.0% for commercial customers, 7.9% for industrial time-of-use customers, 6.9% for municipal customers, and 5.9% for schools. 

“RMLD recognizes that any price increase may pose a challenge for our customers, and we continue to proactively manage operating costs and our power supply cost to minimize these changes and keep bills low,” said Gregory Phipps, general manager of RMLD. “This investment will allow RMLD to pursue needed capital improvements and address continually rising regional transmission costs as we work to provide reliable and excellent service to customers.”   

Customers will see the 2025 billing adjustment reflected in the customer charge, demand charge, and the distribution energy charge. A full breakdown of RMLD residential bill charges can be found here.

RMLD power sources are currently at 55% non-carbon, well ahead of the Commonwealth’s 2030 mandate that the power sold by MLPs be sourced from resources that are 50% non-carbon by 2030, 75% non-carbon by 2040, and net-zero carbon by 2050.

READING, MA – Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) and Tantalus Systems (Tantalus), a smart grid technology company, are excited to announce their partnership to implement the RMLD Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) replacement program beginning in 2025. Accelerating grid modernization through AMI further equips RMLD to bring customers reliable, low-cost, and increasingly non-carbon energy.

AMI is a fixed-network metering system that enables increased communication to RMLD meters throughout the network. This pivotal technology will transform RMLD’s meter infrastructure into a forward-looking, multi-directional grid. The new RMLD AMI will leverage the Tantalus Grid Modernization Platform™  (TGMP™) to improve resiliency, reliability, and efficiency in a secure and affordable manner. TGMP's smart grid architecture will allow RMLD to integrate connected devices, communications networks, grid data management, applications, and analytics into its operations and services. This comprehensive approach will provide greater levels of visibility and control across the entire grid. Real-time data from TGMP will be a key tool for RMLD customers as they look to manage their usage and explore ways to save on energy bills.

"We are excited to collaborate with Tantalus Systems to accelerate the modernization of our distribution grid,” said Gregory Phipps, General Manager of RMLD. “This partnership represents another significant step forward as we continue to provide reliable, low-cost, and increasingly non-carbon energy to our customers. By harnessing the power of data, we aim to enhance customer satisfaction while adapting to a more dynamic energy market."

Leveraging the Tantalus system, the AMI upgrades will allow RMLD to fully automate the integration of grid data across devices and systems. This enhanced automation will help RMLD improve power quality, proactively manage outages, and expand demand response efforts.

"Tantalus is committed to helping utilities like RMLD achieve their grid modernization goals,” said Peter Londa, President and CEO of Tantalus Systems. “Our solutions are purpose-built to help utilities boost operational efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and provide enhanced services to their communities. We are excited to partner with the team at RMLD to ensure a successful implementation and long-term success for their utility."

RMLD has intentionally planned the new AMI implementation as the current meter system nears its end of life to ensure that RMLD continues its record of reliability, and to be more cost-effective in the long term. The AMI meter replacement of all current RMLD residential meters will begin in the summer of 2025 and continue through 2026.

Peter Londa, President and CEO of Tantalus Systems (left) and Gregory Phipps, General Manager of RMLD (right) sign contract to accelerate grid modernization.

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About Tantalus Systems Holding Inc. (TSX: GRID, OTCQX: TGMPF)

Tantalus is a technology company dedicated to helping utilities modernize their distribution grids by harnessing the power of data across all their devices and systems deployed throughout the entire distribution grid. We offer a grid modernization platform across multiple levels: intelligent connected devices, communications networks, data management, enterprise applications and analytics. Our solutions provide utilities with the flexibility they need to get the most value from existing infrastructure investments while leveraging advanced capabilities to plan for future requirements. Learn more at Tantalus.

READING, MA – Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) is thrilled to partner with Reading Cooperative Bank (RCB) to bring our customers a new Heat Pump 0% Interest Loan incentive. This new incentive supports RMLD customers as they move to upgrade fossil fuel heating and cooling systems to more energy efficient options.  

RMLD and RCB will be kicking off this new offer with a ‘Meet and Greet’ event on March 12, from 4-6pm at the Reading Cooperative Bank, 180 Haven Street, Reading branch. This event is a unique opportunity for customers to stop by and ask questions or explore the application process in real time with the support of the RMLD and RCB teams.  

RMLD’s partnership with RCB continues a long tradition of community collaboration for both organizations. RMLD and RCB are steadfastly committed to introducing programs and incentives that put customers first.  

“In the spirit of community and collaboration, RMLD is excited to partner with Reading Cooperative Bank to bring this new incentive program to life. Our 0% interest loan will make the transition to cleaner home heating and cooling systems more affordable for RMLD customers. Expanding programs like this are a priority for RMLD as we continue to provide our customers with reliable, low-cost and increasingly non-carbon energy. I look forward to meeting customers and answering questions about this new program on March 12." said Gregory J. Phipps, General Manager, RMLD. 

“Reading Cooperative Bank is looking forward to hosting this customer-focused event on March 12. With our partners at RMLD, we are pleased to be offering this new 0% interest loan program created with customers in mind. We hope RMLD customers will come with questions for our team and ready to learn about the program and the benefits of upgrading to a heat pump system,” said Julieann Thurlow, President & CEO of Reading Cooperative Bank. 

The new Heat Pump 0% Interest Loan is part of an updated suite of Heat Pump rebates and incentives at RMLD. Along with the 0% interest loan, the expanded offering now includes a whole- and partial-home heat pump rebate option, as well as rebates for required weatherization in conjunction with the new heat pump system. Weatherization ensures our customers get the maximum energy and cost savings that a heat pump system provides.  

Application process for the new loan and rebate suite opens March 5, 2025. Full details and eligibility requirements for RMLD customers can be found here.

READING, MA – RMLD is thrilled to invite our community high schoolers to explore the exciting spirit of innovation in the energy industry. The 2025 Art and Creativity contest will reward creative thinking and artistic expression around the theme of Innovation in Energy. Key contest details and requirements are as follows: 

- Submissions will be accepted February 1 through April 15, 2025, at 5:30 pm. 

- Each student who submits artwork by the deadline will receive a certificate for ten hours of community service.  

- The 2025 Theme is Innovation in Energy and should be represented in some way in each submission 

- Up to five winners will be selected based on the number of submissions received and the content of the artwork as it relates to this year’s theme of innovation.  

- Winners will receive a gift card for qualified school or art supplies with a top prize of up to $100. 

- There is no restriction on format or medium. 

Full details and requirements are available on our website.