MANVILLE: Buying electricity in bulk will be studied

Hearing is Monday night

By Deb Dawson, Special Writer
Borough residents could find themselves saving up to 14 percent on their electric bills if the Borough Council elects to join the Somerset County Government Energy Aggregation Program.
A government energy aggregation program is a government-operated purchasing cooperative through which energy customers purchase energy together under the auspices of a government aggregator, an agency that assembles a large buying group to realize savings from the buying power of quantity.
Steve Thayer of Jersey Energy Group made a presentation on aggregation at Borough Council’s Nov. 24 meeting. The council gave him the go ahead to explore the feasibility of having Manville establish its own aggregate and also join the SCGEAP to achieve even greater savings for both residents and businesses.
An ordinance providing for this was introduced unanimously. The public hearing will be at the Monday’s Borough Council meeting.
Assuming all goes as planned, the SCGEAP will solicit proposals from qualified energy companies and enter into a contract to provide electricity on behalf of its Manville (and other, as applicable) customers at a savings, usually from six to 14 percent, Mr. Thayer said.
More detailed information will be disseminated to residents and businesses as the time for joining the aggregate draws nearer. Typically everyone in the municipality would automatically be enrolled unless they "opt out" of participating by calling a toll-free number.
Mr. Thayer said energy aggregates have been active and successful in Illinois for quite some time, but only started in New Jersey about two years ago.