GREENBURGH APPROVED MEMO THAT COULD SAVE YOU MONEY ON UTILITY BILLS
Release Date: January 31, 2016
FOUR NEW JERSEY COMMUNITIES ARE DOING WHAT GREENBURGH AND MANY WESTCHESTER MUNICIPALITIES HAVE DECIDED TO DO - ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH A COMPANY THAT COULD SAVE YOU $ ON UTILITY BILLS
IN NEW JERSEY SAVINGS HAVE AVERAGED 8-14%
At the last Greenburgh Town Board meeting (this past Wednesday) the Town Board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the Town Supervisor to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") affirming that the Town and Sustainable Westchester, Inc. agree to participate in a Community Choice Aggregation program ("CCA") to procure energy supply from one or more Energy Service Companies ("ESCOs") for the residents of the Town of Greenburgh.
New Jersey passed a similar law and the first programs launched in 2013.
To date, four communities, Tom’s River, Montgomery County, Monroe, and Plumsted Townships, have aggregated with several more in the planning pipeline. Electricity rate savings of these early adopter programs ranges from 8%-14%.
In the state of New York, Westchester County is leading the way on CCA. Their application to form the first pilot community aggregation program has been granted, and the rest of the state is watching and waiting.
As of December, 2015, 41 municipalities are currently included in Sustainable Westchester, representing approximately 855,000 residents — 90% of the county’s population.
• Sustainable Westchester (SW) is the first and (currently) only Community Choice program in New York State, expected to bid for electricity on behalf of over 45 municipalities in Westchester County.
• SW is exploring some very innovative and exciting synergies with DER to deliver added economic, ecological, and resilience benefit to communities, including community solar, microgrids, peak demand management, and demand response.
Will keep you updated on the company that Sustainable Westchester will enter into an agreement with and will advise residents how to opt out of the program if you do not want to participate. It's our hope that program will start later this year.
Paul Feiner