ALBANY —The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today renewed Sustainable Westchester, Inc.’s Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program, allowing the residents and small businesses of the 21 participating municipalities the opportunity to continue to save money on their utility bills through bulk purchasing of electricity and/or natural gas supply, while also providing increased access and participation in enhanced distributed energy resources (DERs) and efficiency opportunities.

“With greater bargaining power, CCAs can negotiate with energy suppliers to bring customers the best energy prices available along with the best new choices in renewable power and allow customers to reduce bills and meet local clean energy goals,” said Commission Chair John B. Rhodes. “These money-saving associations are a great example of how Governor Cuomo’s Reforming the Energy Vision strategy to build a cleaner, more resilient and affordable energy system to combat climate change and to grow New York's clean energy economy works for all New Yorkers.”

On April 21, 2016, the Commission authorized the establishment of CCA programs by municipalities statewide, recognizing that CCA programs can educate, encourage, and empower communities and individuals to take control of their energy future, while supporting REV goals. Sustainable Westchester’s pilot CCA, known as Westchester Power, was the first CCA pilot authorized in New York, growing from its launch in 2016, to its current size of roughly 100,000 customers in Westchester County.

The objectives of the Westchester Power program include: the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; a decline in energy usage in buildings; increase in electricity sourcing from renewable resources; promotion of DERs; and, the provision of safe and convenient energy choices and increased access to and participation in enhanced DER and efficiency opportunities. Aligning with these objectives, customers have the choice of a standard supply product (mixed energy sourcing) or a green supply product (supply matched 100 percent with Renewable Energy Certificates). In the last reporting period customers in the Westchester Power program saw about a 10 percent savings. Additionally, 70 percent of those customers chose the green supply product.

To date, the Commission has approved three other CCA programs to serve municipalities in New York.

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 or 14-M-0564 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.