Westchester Power Energy Program Starts in Irvington and Tarrytown

Published 8 years ago8y ago • Bookmarks: 55

May 3, 2016

by Robert Kimmel

Most residents and small businesses in Tarrytown and Irvington will be using electric power from “green” renewable energy sources beginning this month, and in the process, they will be saving a few dollars annually by paying at a fixed rate and contributing to a cleaner environment.

The two villages are among the 13 Westchester communities that have chosen the “Green Option” as the default first choice for their residents under the new program initiated by Sustainable Westchester. The program, now called Westchester Power, enrolled 20 municipalities into the project. Seven choose to have the basic, non-renewable power, as the default source for their populations.

Support our Sponsors

Consumers previously using ConEdison as their electric energy supplier were automatically switched to the renewable energy source unless they returned notifications via mail or Internet that they want to remain with ConEdison as their supplier. They also have the opportunity to use the basic, non “green” energy supply, at a slightly lower cost if they opt for that.

Residents already using a different, third party, energy supply company, (ESCO), were not automatically switched. If they want to opt into the Westchester Power program, they are advised to check their present contract to determine if there are penalties for cancelling it before selecting the new program.

An opportunity to learn more about the recent changes directly from officials of Sustainable Westchester and the new program will take place during a public forum sponsored by The Hudson Independent, and hosted by the Warner Library in Tarrytown, on Monday, May 16, at 7:30 p.m. Leo Wiegman, Executive Director of Sustainable Westchester, and Glenn Weinberg, Interim Program Director of Westchester Power, will speak and answer questions from the public.

Originally called Consumer Choice Aggregation (CCA), the program facilitated the lower, fixed rates by consolidating the 20-member communities’ purchase of power in bulk, thereby creating greater bargaining power. The basic power, mostly from fossil fuel such as oil and from nuclear generation, will cost on average $1 or $2 less each month than the 100% Renewable Energy supply, which is generated from solar, wind and water sources, according to Westchester Power. The fixed rates lasting through 2018 for both sources will be below what consumers paid in 2015.

Westchester Power solicited bids from energy suppliers and chose ConEdison Solutions, a subsidiary of ConEdison, with its winning bid, as the source for both renewable (Green Option), and basic (Brown Option) energy for those communities receiving power from ConEdison. As Westchester Power explains it, “Bidders had to offer rates lower than the basic supply benchmark of the 2015 actual average supply rate from the Distribution Utility for residential, and small commercial accounts, respectively.” ConEdison will continue to deliver the power, bill for it and maintain the delivery infrastructure.

As a non-profit, Sustainable Westchester, Inc. represents 40 communities in the county, including Irvington and Tarrytown. Sleepy Hollow is a member but has not as yet joined Westchester Power.

Read or leave a comment on this story...

Support our Sponsors