ONLINE PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 2, 2020
KATONAH, NY (May 29, 2020)—In April, 2020, the Canandaigua City Council authorized Joule Community Power, a division of Joule Assets, to act as the City’s program administrator for its new clean electricity program. Canandaigua will join Gateway Community Power, a community choice aggregation (CCA) program that will enable residents and small businesses in the City of Canandaigua and the Village of Victor to pool electricity demand in order to leverage their collective purchasing power in effort to secure more favorable energy supply rates and designate renewable energy sources. These two jurisdictions are part of a geographic area commonly referred to as the “Gateway to the Finger Lakes.”
Community choice programs empower local municipalities, rather than the State, to select the default source of electric supply for residents and small businesses. Through these programs, municipalities can help energy consumers in their communities source clean energy, gain price stability, and save money on electricity. The contract guaranteeing the fixed rate is held by the municipality, giving consumers the flexibility to participate without requiring additional action on the part of the consumer.
The New York State Public Service Commission authorized the creation of CCA programs in 2016, after the idea was piloted by twenty communities in Westchester County. As of May 2019, the pilot program had expanded to 26 municipalities—out of which 25 are choosing energy from renewable generation sources—and has saved 110,000+ homes and small businesses more than $17 million. In 2019, Joule rolled out community choice programs to more than 25,000 utility account holders in seven NY State communities through two CCA programs. With 26 municipalities in NY State having selected Joule as program administrator, Gateway Community Power is one of three new CCA programs that Joule is launching this summer.
Canandaigua City Manager John Goodwin stated, “the City of Canandaigua has been a leader with respect to the utilization of alternative energy sources and CCA will give us the opportunity to continue to lead by providing our entire community with renewable energy at a lower cost than they are paying now.”
“This is a remarkable opportunity for the City of Canandaigua to source 100% clean electricity supply on their own terms and to support the development of local renewables,” said Glenn Weinberg, CCA Program Director at Joule Community Power. “We are delighted to be working in partnership to achieve that goal.”
As Gateway Community Power program administrator, Joule is initiating a robust local outreach process designed to listen to residents' concerns and ideas. Building on a foundation of strong local leadership, Joule has teamed up with Rochester-based Roctricity to provide local program support, education, and outreach. Roctricity principals, including Ben Frevert and Sue Hughes-Smith, are available to present at meetings and events in Canandaigua and throughout the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region.
Public meeting
The first CCA public information meeting since the City’s selection of Joule as its program administrator has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at 7 pm. The public can participate in the meeting through Zoom, Facebook Live, or Finger Lakes Television. Information on how to access the virtual meeting—and other upcoming events—will be available on the program website:
gatewaycommunitypower.com/events.
About Gateway Community Power
Gateway Community Power is a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program—comprising communities in New York’s Ontario County—that was formed in partnership with Joule Community Power. The program enables participating communities to pool local electricity demand in order to leverage the collective buying power of their residents and small businesses in effort to secure more favorable energy supply rates and designate renewable generation sources. The participating communities are the City of Canandaigua and the Village of Victor. To learn more, visit
gatewaycommunitypower.com.
About Roctricity
An outgrowth of the Rochester People's Climate Coalition, Roctricity was formed to bring CCA to communities in the Genesee-Finger Lakes region. Roctricity seeks to provide the focus, agility, and transparency to the local CCA effort. Roctricty's four founding partners have been driving the effort to bring CCA to the Rochester area since 2016. With a wealth of expertise, they are uniquely suited to educate municipal leaders and the public regarding issues related to CCA policy and implementation. Roctricity is advocating for community acquisition of electricity that is 100% renewable, or carbon free, that is procured at prices lower than historical rates.
About Joule Community Power
Joule Community Power works with municipalities and local partners to empower communities and facilitate their goals of providing residents and businesses with cleaner and cheaper energy. With no upfront cost to a municipality or its residents, Joule’s first-of-kind, integrated Community Power program helps municipalities and consumers (1) save money by gaining leverage to procure less expensive electricity for residents and businesses, (2) make money by creating new revenue opportunities through participation in energy markets, and (3) go green by gaining local control to opt for clean and renewable generation sources. Joule's distinctive expertise in designing and implementing new consumer-protective energy supply contracts was instrumental in the creation of New York State’s first community choice aggregation (CCA) energy program. Joule is the only company in NY State offering CCA administrative services with a Public Service Commission-approved implementation plan that integrates community solar projects; and only Joule has the expertise, relationships, and experience to effectively design, implement, and manage such a program. Joule’s innovative renewable energy strategy is driving new regulation and encouraging the NY State Public Service Commission to rapidly advance innovative solutions. Having created the blueprint to guide communities through a smooth and empowering decision process, Joule aims to scale its Community Power model across NY State and beyond. Joule also offers capacity tag management services to businesses wishing to reduce their electricity costs by strategically managing their energy consumption. Joule Community Power is a division of
Joule Assets.
