Thiele Measure Would Help Municipalities Save On Electricity Costs Via CCA

Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. announced on Friday, March 26, that he had introduced legislation to make it easier for communities to take control over the cost and source of their electricity. State Senator Todd Kaminsky will introduce a similar bill in the Senate.

Community Choice Aggregation, or CCA, programs have already been established in five upstate communities, but efforts to establish them on Long Island, which is served by the Long Island Power Authority, have been stymied by LIPA’s complex rate structures and other rules, he said in a release.

In a CCA program, municipalities are able to pool the purchasing power of all electricity customers and bargain with their utility for lower rates, as well as demand that some or all of their energy comes from renewable sources such as wind and solar power.

CCA programs were authorized in New York by the Public Service Commission in 2016, but the PSC “did not fully account for the complexities of LIPA’s service territory and rate structure,” Mr. Thiele stated, which have caused delays in implementation of CCA programs.

Southampton, East Hampton, Brookhaven, and Hempstead towns have all passed the initial local laws needed to authorize their own CCA program.

“Long Islanders deserve to have the same access to greener and more affordable energy as other ratepayers across the state,” Mr. Thiele stated. “Several localities on Long Island have expressed an interest in participating in CCA programs, with three of our local East End towns already passing the necessary legislation to do so. These municipalities should be allowed to proceed.”

“Long Islanders want to use green, renewable energy to power their homes — and they want to do it at an affordable price,” said Senator Kaminsky. “Passing legislation to mandate Community Choice Aggregation programs on the island will ensure that homeowners have options for sustainable energy sources.”

The legislation has received the support of officials in East Hampton, Southampton and Brookhaven towns.

“Community Choice Aggregation promises to be a significant avenue to help further our renewable energy goals,” said East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc. “Allowing municipalities to select green energy will not only reduce a town’s carbon footprint but will help to support the development of renewable energy alternatives.”

“The Township of Southampton has initiated a very ambitious set of energy goals, including achieving energy independence and carbon net neutrality within this decade,” said Councilman John Bouvier. “As the first municipality on Long Island to have enacted enabling legislation for CCA, we see this as an important tool in achieving those goals, while offering lower energy costs and access to alternative energy sources for our residents.”

“Residents are faced with increasing energy costs that are driving many off the island, so a change is needed to help keep them here,” said Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine. “There are many cost-cutting, green energy programs that need to be implemented and this legislation will keep Long Island on the right track to get the job done.”