Westchester Power Electricity Supply Resumes in Con Ed Utility Area

We are pleased to announce that Westchester Power has secured a new contract and will resume electricity supply service in the 24 participating Con Edison municipalities. Read the press release here.

The Westchester Power electricity supply service in these municipalities had paused as of the June 30 end of the last contract, as extreme market volatility hindered earlier efforts to secure a follow-on supply contract. As the NY state model for “community choice aggregation” community-based renewable energy, program impact has been substantial locally and State-wide, and the resumption of service sets the participating municipalities back on track with this important part of their greenhouse gas reduction efforts.

The new contract starts with meter reads in November and ends on first meter reads after October 31, 2024. See below for more detail.

Sustainable Westchester remains committed to working with its partner municipalities on on building the most economically effective transition to the new clean energy economy. Much more to come!

*This change DOES NOT APPLY to Yonkers residents. For the list of participating Con Edison municipalities click here.

New Rates, What To Expect Next

While our new rates are significantly higher than what has been offered through Westchester Power in the past, they are reflective of the current volatile energy market. The new rates compare very favorably against renewable energy market offerings and offer cost-effective access to clean energy in a consumer-friendly format.

Rates & Market Context

Energy prices are up everywhere, and the new Westchester Power program rates reflect these market realities. While we can’t know what future utility (Con Edison) rates will be, and therefore whether savings will be realized, we provide here some of that market context.

The most explicit of these recent inputs is Con Edison’s September 9 press release alerting the public that prices would be rising:
“Con Edison Offering Assistance As Energy Market Prices Surge”

“…A Westchester County customer using 600 kilowatt hours a month will have an average bill of $203, a 27-percent increase over last winter’s $160, based on the company’s latest estimates.”

The NY Independent System Operator (NYISO – the entity that manages the State’s electric grid) release a statement on 9/13/2022,  with a similar warning:

The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) is warning of a sharp rise in wholesale electric costs expected this winter due to several economic and geopolitical factors that continue to impact the market cost of natural gas used in the production of electricity.

Public Information Sessions

We’re grouping so you can join with neighbors if you choose, but if you can’t make one that is designated for your municipality you can join any session that works for your schedule.

Sound Shore (Rye, Rye Brook, Mamaroneck V, Mamaroneck T, New Rochelle, Larchmont, Pelham)
Central County (White Plains, Mt. Kisco, Bedford, New Castle, Tuckahoe, Pleasantville)
Upper River Towns (Peekskill, Croton on Hudson, Ossining Town, Ossining Village, Sleepy Hollow)
Lower River Towns (Tarrytown, Irvington, Dobbs Ferry, Ardsley, Hastings on Hudson, Town of Greenburgh)

Thursday, 9/22 at 7pm
Central Westchester: (Video link)

Wednesday, 9/28 at 12 Noon
Sound Shore: (Link to video)

Past Public Information Sessions

Wednesday (8/31) at 12 Noon
Central Westchester: (Link to video)
Lower River Towns: (Link to video)
Sound Shore: (Link to video)
Upper River Towns: (Link to video)

Wednesday (8/31) at 7:00pm
Central Westchester: (Link to video)
Lower River Towns: (Link to video)
Sound Shore: (Link to video)
Upper River Towns: (Link to video)

Commitment To Clean Energy

Since 2016, the Westchester Power Community Energy program has helped municipalities in Westchester County leverage the collective power of its residents to control costs and provide insurance against fluctuations in electricity supply through competitively priced and fixed-rate bulk purchasing, while also leading the transition to renewable energy in the state through Westchester Power’s 100% Renewable energy as the primary product subscription of most participants.

In 6 years of operation, Westchester residents and businesses have mitigated the emission of about 1,100,000 metric tons of CO2 through their decision to support renewable energy via Westchester Power. This is equivalent to taking roughly 293,000 cars off the road for one year.

Westchester Power Electricity Supply Service Basics

• Westchester Power is a program that allows local governments to procure electricity, gas, and other services on behalf of their residents and small businesses
• This is only an electricity SUPPLY offering. Participants are still customers of their utility company who continue to be responsible for energy distribution, infrastructure maintenance, and billing of customers
• Westchester Power hosts auctions among qualified Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) and awards supply contracts through this competitive bidding process
• Enrollment is on an “opt-out” basis- you receive a notification letter with all the program details, and are enrolled unless you say you do not want to be. Participants can exit (or change supply option http://sustainablewestchester.org/wp/energy-choices/) at any time with no fee

A Community
Energy Platform

The large scale of the program enables us to attract new opportunities for increased environmental impact and potential savings. These include:

Westchester Power Solar Credit offering – Sustainable Westchester is preparing to launch an exciting, new Solar Credit offering within the Westchester Power program in late 2022. The Solar Credit offering provides guaranteed savings to participating households and small businesses. The offering will prioritize the delivery of the Solar Credit savings to those enrolled in the existing utility’s low-income assistance program.

Let’s Talk About Clean Energy

Why clean energy? By now, everyone has heard of climate change, but it’s not always easy to make the connection to our daily lives. Our energy choices are, however, linked to many of the most serious challenges that we face these days, as well as the question of what kind of future we leave our children.

Most of our electricity is still generated by burning fossil fuels which release greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. This has contributed to our environment’s degradation, increasing temperatures, and local effects such as more frequent higher intensity storms and changes in seasonal patterns. Here’s a short video about the greenhouse effect which is responsible for this problem.

Our energy choices and COVID 19

Studies are showing that areas with higher levels of pollution see worse outcomes from COVID 19. Many observers have pointed out the similarities in the challenges since both require collective, long-term action to solve.

Sea Level Rise

Over the past century, the Hudson has risen about a foot due to global warming (see this Scenic Hudson article), threatening households and habitats. This map shows how the Yonkers waterfront may fare over this century. We can reduce the impact and costs by taking strong action to reverse the growth of greenhouse gases.