October 8, 2026 | Westfield Gas + Electric Celebrates Public Power Week
Westfield, MA — In recognition of Public Power Week, October 4-10, Westfield Gas + Electric (WG+E) is proud to celebrate the value of community-owned utility service and the many benefits it brings to Westfield residents and businesses. As always, we’re marking the occasion by joining our community at PumpkinFest for an afternoon of games and giveaways and launching our customer satisfaction survey. Every customer who completes the survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WGE-2026) will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of five $250 energy credits. PumpkinFest, co-sponsored with Westfield on Weekends, will be held on Saturday, October 17th from 11AM-3PM behind Westfield Middle School.
Massachusetts is home to 40 public power utilities, and WG+E is proud to be one of them. As part of this network, WG+E joins communities across the Commonwealth in delivering reliable, affordable, and locally owned electric service. These public power utilities are represented by the Municipal Electric Association of Massachusetts (MEAM), which supports and advocates for community-owned electric providers.
As a public power utility, WG+E is owned by the community we serve. That means our decisions are made right here in Westfield, with our customers’ best interests at the forefront. Unlike investor-owned utilities, we operate on a not-for-profit basis, reinvesting revenues back into our system to maintain infrastructure, improve reliability, and keep rates as stable and cost-effective as possible. That local ownership also made it possible for WG+E to launch Whip City Fiber, bringing high-speed fiber internet to the community and beyond.
“Being one of 40 public power utilities in Massachusetts is something we take great pride in,” said Tom Flaherty, General Manager of Westfield Gas + Electric. “It reflects our commitment to putting Westfield first and providing safe, dependable service every day.”
Public power utilities are positioned to respond quickly during outages and emergencies, and WG+E’s crews live and work right here in our community. We’re also committed to helping customers use energy wisely through programs like Home Plus and the Insulation + Weatherization Rebate, and to investing in long-term infrastructure, including ongoing natural gas main replacement work across the city. Every initiative reflects the needs and values of Westfield residents and businesses.
As we celebrate Public Power Week, we want to thank our dedicated employees, especially the line workers and field crews who keep the lights on in every kind of weather, and the community members who make public power possible. We are proud to be one of the 40 public power utilities across Massachusetts delivering reliable, community-focused public power.
To learn more about public power in Massachusetts, please visit https://www.meam.org/
To learn more about how Westfield residents can save money with energy efficient upgrades, please visit https://www.wgeld.org/pages/residential/ways-to-save/