N.Y. Muni Aggregation To Send Notices To ESCO Customers About Ability To Opt-In

New York opt-out municipal aggregation Sustainable Westchester, Inc. informed the New York PSC that certain of its member communities will go "above and beyond" the required opt-out notice mailing to utility bundled service customers, and will also mail information about the aggregation to customers currently on competitive supply, "to ensure that residents currently in contract with ESCO are alerted to their opportunity to opt-in to the program when their current contract terminates."

Specifically, Sustainable Westchester said that, "at least two municipalities," plan to send such notices to customers already on competitive supply

Sustainable Westchester made the disclosure in updating the PSC on its outreach plans for its pilot municipal aggregation, and in seeking aggregate customer data from the utilities

Sustainable Westchester reported that 15 municipalities have passed a local law authorizing the opt-out aggregation: New Rochelle, Lewisboro, Somers, Bedford, Croton-on-Hudson, the Village of Ossining, the Town of Ossining, Pleasantville, Rye Brook, Tuckahoe, the Town of Mamaroneck, North Salem, Irvington, Pound Ridge, Cortlandt, and Tarrytown.

In addition, seven more municipalities have upcoming public hearings scheduled. SW anticipates requesting aggregate data for most, if not all of these municipalities in the coming weeks. These municipalities are: Mount Kisco, Port Chester, New Castle, Pelham Manor, Larchmont, Town of Greenburgh, and White Plains.

Sustainable Westchester anticipates issuing a request for proposals on October 12, 2015 to the ESCOs registered in New York State. "The response window will be relatively narrow, and bids will be reviewed quickly. If a bid is accepted, Energy Service Agreements will be reviewed and signed by municipalities. In this event, the anticipated launch date will be January 1, 2016," SW said