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For Immediate Release: 01/19/23 Rory M. Christian, Chair Contact:
James Denn | James.Denn@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080
23007 / 14-M-0224 January 19, 2023
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PSC Improves Popular Community Choice Aggregation Program |
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Changes Made Include Program Standardization and Streamlining Filing Process Revamped Program Will Benefit All New York Residents and Further State's Energy Goals
ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today adopted a series of improvements to New York’s Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program. The purpose of CCA programs is to allow participating local governments to procure energy supply service, facilitate wider market-based deployment of clean energy, and increase the penetration of large-scale renewables and distributed energy resources for eligible energy customers in the community.
“CCAs provide local governments the opportunity to support the energy and environmental needs of their constituents by expanding the choices of energy options available,” said Commission Chair Rory M. Christian. “Eligible customers have the opportunity to have more control over their overall energy costs, to spur clean energy innovation and investment, to improve customer choice and value, and to protect the environment, thereby fulfilling an important public purpose.”
Based upon Commission analysis, CCA programs continue to provide substantial opportunities for local, community, and individual engagement on topics related to energy needs, such as innovative energy programs, products, and services that promote and advance local goals. The number of CCAs continues to grow in New York State. Currently, there are 58 municipalities participating in New York State’s CCA program.
With the many changes that have occurred in the market it is necessary to facilitate transparency and consistency among CCA administrators, clarify and further develop existing CCA requirements, institute price caps on commodity products to ensure customer benefits, ensure the necessary outreach and education requirements are in place to protect NYS consumers, and to help New York meet its clean energy and Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) goals.
The changes to the CCA program also include modifications of existing program rules, adoption of additional program requirements, a more streamlined filing process, as well as standardization of CCA Administrator aggregations and submittals. Through these program changes, the CCA program will have the enhanced ability to benefit and protect all New York residents and further the State's clean energy goals.
New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan
New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $35 billion in 120 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.6 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting more than 165,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2020, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.
Today’s decision may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission’s Web site at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Number 14-M-0224 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number". Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission documents may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500). If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.
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