Clean Energy Communities
Community Choice Aggregation
This page details the steps your community needs to take to get Clean Energy Communities certification for this Action Item by NYSERDA and how Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council (G/FLRPC) can assist you. As the Finger Lakes Region Clean Energy Coordinator, we are available to help you through any step in this process. Please email David Zorn at dave.zorn@gflrpc.org, or if you have been in touch with other Regional Clean Energy Communities Coordinators at G/FLRPC, email them directly for help completing this action item.
The purpose of Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is to allow participating local governments to procure energy supply service and distributed energy resources for eligible energy customers in the community. These customers will have the opportunity to opt out of the procurement, while maintaining transmission and distribution service from the existing Distribution Utility.
CCA allows local governments to work together through a shared purchasing model to put out for bid the total amount of electricity and/or natural gas being purchased by eligible customers within the jurisdictional boundaries of participating municipalities. Eligible customers will have the opportunity to have more control to lower their overall energy costs, to spur clean energy innovation and investment, to improve customer choice and value, and to protect the environment, thereby fulfilling an important public purpose.
Step 1: Pass a Local Law
This requires holding a hearing and passing a local law (template). The local law allows for home rule authority in the area of energy purchasing. Your municipality can be the CCA Administrator, or you can contract with another entity.
Cities, towns, and villages may wish to join together to pool demand and build market clout. In Community Choice Aggregation programs where one local government serves as the Administrator, other participating local governments may wish to enter into an Inter-Municipal Agreement with the municipal Administrator to create a Community Choice Aggregation program. Where the Administrator is a third party such as a nonprofit organization, private company, or local development corporation, municipalities may enter into a Memorandum of Understanding, contract, or other agreement with the Administrator to commit to participate in the program subject to certain terms and conditions. Templates for Memorandum of Understandings and Inter-Municipal Agreements can be found here:
https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Clean-Energy-Communities/Clean-Energy-Communities-Program-High-Impact-Action-Toolkits/Community-Choice-Aggregation
Step 2: Do an Implementation Plan and Data Protection Plan
The Implementation Plan helps municipal officials, Community Choice Aggregation teams, NYSERDA, and the Public Service Commission (PSC) clearly understand the goals, milestones, and deliverables. It also defines the roles and responsibilities of project partners as well as the Community Choice Aggregation’s approach to public engagement, outreach, and education. A template can be found through the above link.
The Data Protection Plan must describe how the CCA Administrator will ensure the same level of consumer protections, including low income customers, as currently provided by utilities and ESCOs.
Step 3: File copies of the Local Law, Implementation Plan and Data Protection Plan with the PSC
The PSC requires that the plans from step 2 and local law from step 1 be sent to them for approval. Email dave.zorn@gflrpc.org when you are ready to file these documents. He will help you through the process.
Step 4: Send Opt-Out Letters
After receiving approval by the PSC, your municipality will need to send opt-out letters to all rate payers. They have 2 months to opt-out. Additionally, the state requires a 3 month no-fee opt-out period after the contract period begins. An opt-out letter template can be found at the same link as the MOU and IMA's above.
Step 5: Submit materials to NYSERDA for approval
NYSERDA requires a copy of your legislation and the executed Electrical Service Agreement. Your ESA must be for energy that is 100% Green-e certified. Submit these documents here:
https://nyserda-site.secure.force.com/CEC_HighImpact_Action_Item_Document_Page
Community Choice Aggregation webinar
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) workshop for government leaders - Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council (G/FLRPC) and the Rochester People's Climate Coalition (RPCC) will be hosting a Clean Energy Communities and Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) workshop for government leaders. This is a follow-up to sessions held in the fall, and will provide a general overview of the NYSERDA Clean Energy Community Program, and focus on the specific details of how a CCA program is established, and the role of the administrator and municipality. The general Clean Energy Communities Program overview will be given by G/FLRPC, the Clean Energy Communities Coordinator for the Finger Lakes Region. The CCA portion of the session will be led by Glenn Weinberg from Joule Assets, a key player in the creation of the first NY CCA, Westchester Power. Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Implementation Workshop for elected officials, municipal staff, and community leaders to learn more about building sustainable local energy programs that: generate savings and earnings for consumers stimulate economic activity in the community; drive the development of renewable energy; and enhance efficiency, reliability, and resilience of local power systems. We will cover process around passage of a local law, regulatory protocol, energy procurement, as well as end-to-end timeline and administration models available to municipalities. Workshop will be held at the Penfield Town Hall, April 5, 2-4 PM. Please RSVP to sue@rocpcc.com and dave.zorn@gflrpc.org. If you would like to view a previously held CCA webinar please visit http://www.gflrpc.org/cecwebinars.html.
The purpose of Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is to allow participating local governments to procure energy supply service and distributed energy resources for eligible energy customers in the community. These customers will have the opportunity to opt out of the procurement, while maintaining transmission and distribution service from the existing Distribution Utility.
CCA allows local governments to work together through a shared purchasing model to put out for bid the total amount of electricity and/or natural gas being purchased by eligible customers within the jurisdictional boundaries of participating municipalities. Eligible customers will have the opportunity to have more control to lower their overall energy costs, to spur clean energy innovation and investment, to improve customer choice and value, and to protect the environment, thereby fulfilling an important public purpose.
Step 1: Pass a Local Law
This requires holding a hearing and passing a local law (template). The local law allows for home rule authority in the area of energy purchasing. Your municipality can be the CCA Administrator, or you can contract with another entity.
Cities, towns, and villages may wish to join together to pool demand and build market clout. In Community Choice Aggregation programs where one local government serves as the Administrator, other participating local governments may wish to enter into an Inter-Municipal Agreement with the municipal Administrator to create a Community Choice Aggregation program. Where the Administrator is a third party such as a nonprofit organization, private company, or local development corporation, municipalities may enter into a Memorandum of Understanding, contract, or other agreement with the Administrator to commit to participate in the program subject to certain terms and conditions. Templates for Memorandum of Understandings and Inter-Municipal Agreements can be found here:
https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Clean-Energy-Communities/Clean-Energy-Communities-Program-High-Impact-Action-Toolkits/Community-Choice-Aggregation
Step 2: Do an Implementation Plan and Data Protection Plan
The Implementation Plan helps municipal officials, Community Choice Aggregation teams, NYSERDA, and the Public Service Commission (PSC) clearly understand the goals, milestones, and deliverables. It also defines the roles and responsibilities of project partners as well as the Community Choice Aggregation’s approach to public engagement, outreach, and education. A template can be found through the above link.
The Data Protection Plan must describe how the CCA Administrator will ensure the same level of consumer protections, including low income customers, as currently provided by utilities and ESCOs.
Step 3: File copies of the Local Law, Implementation Plan and Data Protection Plan with the PSC
The PSC requires that the plans from step 2 and local law from step 1 be sent to them for approval. Email dave.zorn@gflrpc.org when you are ready to file these documents. He will help you through the process.
Step 4: Send Opt-Out Letters
After receiving approval by the PSC, your municipality will need to send opt-out letters to all rate payers. They have 2 months to opt-out. Additionally, the state requires a 3 month no-fee opt-out period after the contract period begins. An opt-out letter template can be found at the same link as the MOU and IMA's above.
Step 5: Submit materials to NYSERDA for approval
NYSERDA requires a copy of your legislation and the executed Electrical Service Agreement. Your ESA must be for energy that is 100% Green-e certified. Submit these documents here:
https://nyserda-site.secure.force.com/CEC_HighImpact_Action_Item_Document_Page
Community Choice Aggregation webinar
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) workshop for government leaders - Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council (G/FLRPC) and the Rochester People's Climate Coalition (RPCC) will be hosting a Clean Energy Communities and Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) workshop for government leaders. This is a follow-up to sessions held in the fall, and will provide a general overview of the NYSERDA Clean Energy Community Program, and focus on the specific details of how a CCA program is established, and the role of the administrator and municipality. The general Clean Energy Communities Program overview will be given by G/FLRPC, the Clean Energy Communities Coordinator for the Finger Lakes Region. The CCA portion of the session will be led by Glenn Weinberg from Joule Assets, a key player in the creation of the first NY CCA, Westchester Power. Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Implementation Workshop for elected officials, municipal staff, and community leaders to learn more about building sustainable local energy programs that: generate savings and earnings for consumers stimulate economic activity in the community; drive the development of renewable energy; and enhance efficiency, reliability, and resilience of local power systems. We will cover process around passage of a local law, regulatory protocol, energy procurement, as well as end-to-end timeline and administration models available to municipalities. Workshop will be held at the Penfield Town Hall, April 5, 2-4 PM. Please RSVP to sue@rocpcc.com and dave.zorn@gflrpc.org. If you would like to view a previously held CCA webinar please visit http://www.gflrpc.org/cecwebinars.html.
