Town of Geneva to increase the quality and variety of energy offerings available to residents and small businesses
GENEVA, NY (May 1, 2023) – Local leadership is once again taking a stand on climate, controlling energy costs and increasing consumer protections. Town of Geneva has secured a new electricity contract through the Finger Lakes Community Choice program, to continue to provide residents and small businesses with fixed-rate electricity supply and access to renewable electricity.
Joule Community Power (a division of Joule Assets, Inc.) continues to be the program administrator.
This is the Town’s third contract through the program. By supplying local customers with renewable electricity, rather than with the utility’s fossil fuel-based mix, the program is lowering the community’s carbon footprint, and increasing demand for and directly supporting clean energy resources in New York State.
Finger Lakes Community Choice is a community choice aggregation (CCA) program that helps enable local climate action and functions as a buying group for local communities interested in increasing the quality and quantity of electricity offerings available to their communities. By working together, the communities can dictate the terms of the supply contracts and choose renewable electricity options.
Program performance to date:
Finger Lakes Community Choice first launched in July 2019, with the Villages of Lima and Brockport, joining the effort in 2021. During the most recent electricity supply contract, to date the program’s fixed-rate for electricity supply saved customers over $58,000 on their electricity costs compared to if they had been paying the utility’s variable rate for supply. On top of this, the program's fixed-rate electricity supply has protected customers from unpredictable bills, especially in 2022 when the energy market saw record high price volatility.
Additionally, since the program launched in 2019, Town of Geneva program participants have helped avoid 1,470 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions thanks to the community’s support for renewable electricity resources. This is equivalent to greenhouse gas emissions from consuming 165,400 gallons of gasoline.
New electricity supply contract in effect this summer:
The Town of Geneva has a new 18-month electricity supply contract through the Finger Lakes Community Choice program that will begin supplying participants this July. The community is looking forward to continuing to provide their residents and small businesses with renewable electricity and with the security that comes with fixed prices. Town of Geneva’s new default electricity supply option will be a 50% NY State renewable fixed-rate electricity supply – the remaining 50% is matched by certificates sourced from U.S. renewable electricity resources. The electricity supply will come from Direct Energy Services, LLC a leading competitive energy provider.
Town Supervisor Mark Venuti commented “The town is pleased to be able to provide these options to NYSEG’s ever-changing rate. We have three fixed rates to choose from, or the choice to opt-out entirely and stay with NYSEG. Last year we were consistently below NYSEG’s rate and supported the growth of renewable energy production to boot.”
Eligible residents and businesses will be automatically enrolled in the default option of 50% renewable (the remaining 50% is matched by certificates sourced from U.S. renewable electricity resources), but may withdraw or switch supply options, at any time, without incurring fees or penalties. In mid-May, eligible customers will receive a letter from their municipality that includes information on how to opt out. Those who opt out will receive basic electricity supply service from NYSEG at the variable utility rate. Regardless of program participation, NYSEG remains responsible for delivery, repair services, and billing.
Jessica Stromback CEO of Joule Assets, says “Local leadership is what drives the success of climate action in New York State today, from CCA programs to approving solar projects, to enabling job training. CCA allows residents to be represented as a group by their municipal leadership – using their group purchasing power to provide at scale access to renewable energy through protective contracts. At Joule, we are proud to be able to support local leadership in the Town of Geneva once again, making the decisions and taking the steps that drive change.”
Finger Lakes Community Choice Options and Rates
effective July 1, 2023
Customer Type: Residential and Small Commercial
Default option:
- 50% NYS Renewable Fixed Rate: $0.08990 per kWh
Additional options:
- 100% NYS Renewable Fixed Rate: $0.10000 per kWh
- Standard Fixed Rate: $0.07630 per kWh
The Finger Lakes Community Choice customer support team is available to answer questions. Customers should feel free to call 585-244-0244 or email info@fingerlakescommunitychoice.com. For information and updates visit www.fingerlakescommunitychoice.com
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ABOUT JOULE COMMUNITY POWER
Joule Community Power is committed to developing a clean energy future for all. Through its comprehensive portfolio of community choice aggregation and sustainability services, Joule ensures the at-scale uptake and deployment of new clean energy resources, enabling municipalities to deliver on their sustainability objectives. Joule's programs empower municipalities to make energy decisions for their own communities, thereby enabling local decision-making and empowerment. In doing so, Joule is shifting New York State’s energy dependency from a utility-controlled, fossil fuel model to a municipally-controlled clean, renewable energy model for thousands of households at a time. As a first mover, in 2021, Joule launched the first and only opt-out community solar program in the U.S., bringing the benefits of solar—including guaranteed electricity bill savings—to entire communities. As of December 31, 2022, Joule represented 800,000 New Yorkers in 56 municipalities. 99.5% of Joule's program participants have saved money on their electricity costs by paying the fixed CCA electricity rate, instead of the local utility’s variable electricity supply rate. Additionally, Joule enables consumers and institutions to take action and benefit from the ongoing Federal and New York State investment in sustainability initiatives.
Joule Community Power is a division of Joule Assets.
To learn more, visit joulecommunitypower.com
