Planning, Economic Development and Land Use Committee

COMMON COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING PLANNING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LAND USE COMMITTEE Cathy M. Fahey, Chair DATE: Tuesday, February 25, 2020 PLACE: City Court Room 209 – 2nd Fl. City Hall TIME: 5:30 PM TOPICS OF DISCUSSION: RESOLUTION NUMBER 9.21.20R RESOLUTION ADOPTING COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION PROGRAM EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PLAN AND CUSTOMER OPT-OUT LETTER PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: Yes Council Member Fahey introduced the following: RESOLUTION NUMBER 9.21.20R RESOLUTION ADOPTING COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION PROGRAM EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PLAN AND CUSTOMER OPT-OUT LETTER WHEREAS, the City of Albany has established a Community Choice Aggregation (“CCA”) Program to aggregate the energy supply needs of residents and small commercial businesses, and to negotiate and enter into energy supply contracts with Energy Service Companies (“ESCOs”) on behalf of these citizens to obtain competitively priced energy, often at a fixed or predictable cost, as well as environmental benefits and opportunities to pursue community-based energy initiatives; and WHEREAS, the City of Albany is required to adopt a community-specific plan for engaging in public education and outreach regarding the CCA Program in this community, as well as an opt- out letter on the City of Albany’s letterhead informing members of the public of their right to opt-out of the CCA Program, and providing a clear procedure for so doing; and WHEREAS, these community-specific documents, once adopted, will be incorporated into the CCA Program Implementation Plan, to be administered by the CCA Administrator, as approved by the New York State Public Service Commission (“NYSPSC”), to ensure compliance with rules and regulations governing CCAs; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Albany hereby adopts a public education and outreach plan and CCA opt-out letter; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the plan and letter will be provided to the CCA Administrator and New York State Department of Public Service staff charged with reviewing on behalf of the NYSPSC, for incorporation into the CCA Program Implementation Plan.  Albany Common Council Memorandum in Support of Legislation Resolution 9.21.20R Sponsor(s): Council Member Fahey Title: RESOLUTION ADOPTING COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION PROGRAM EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PLAN AND CUSTOMER OPT-OUT LETTER Purpose: To approve the opt-out letter that must be approved by the State and submitted to the State with Local Law B of 2020 upon its passage; to prove to the State that the City fulfilled the 60-day minimum period of education and used multiple methods to reach constituents. Summary: Enables the aggregation of energy supply needs of both the City of Albany and other Capital Region residents and small commercial businesses, and negotiating energy supply contracts with Energy Service Companies (“ESCOs”) to obtain stable, lower-cost energy prices, as well as environmental benefits and/or a community-based solution to meeting our collective energy needs. Justification: New York State Public Service Commission (“NYSPSC”), on April 21, 2016, adopted an Order authorizing cities, towns and villages within the State to create Community Choice Aggregation Programs, by themselves or in concert with other municipalities (hereinafter “NYSPSC Order Authorizing CCAs”), and/or to retain a CCA Administrator to implement the program and negotiate ESAs. Fiscal Impact(s): To be determined.