By Mary Ellen Day, Special Writer
Residents came out Monday night to speak their minds to Borough Council about the entire borough switching to one electricity supplier.
The idea was presented to council on Nov. 24 and introduced as a possible ordinance. Using the principle of bulk purchasing, a company could negotiate an electricity rate for almost all users in the borough. Theoretically, the more purchasers, the lower the rate.
The hitch for most speakers Monday was that everyone would be brought into the plan — unless they specifically acted to opt out.
After hearing the public pan the idea, the ordinance died in a unanimous vote.
Stephen Thayer and Molly Whilesmith of Jersey Energy Group took to the microphone to answer questions before the vote was taken.
Six residents spoke regarding the change.
Elizabeth Walther asked how a decision could be made tonight that she would be switching from PSEG to this company.
"So you are going to make all the residents of Manville go to this company if it is approved?"
Mayor Corradino said it was allowing the option and if residents wanted to stay with their current server they could.
"It is just opening the door for residents if they want to with this," the mayor said.
Ms. Whilesmith said, "We are at the very beginning of introducing this program around to towns. We come in and talk to the councils, we answer their questions and we make a presentation. Some municipalities aren’t able to put the approval on this calendar year."
Ms. Walther said the mayor had said that she had the option not to go in and it was "not townwide mandatory." Mayor Corradino explained that this was allowing the Somerset County Government Energy Aggregation program to come in and advertise and assured that Manville was not making any money from it.
Resident Rudy Nowak asked if agreeing to go with Jersey Energy Group meant that all other companies were eliminated. Mr. Thayer replied no.
Mr. Thayer said other companies most of the time were not "consumer friendly" and the rates his company was offering "were very advantageous."
"What this allows is for the community to pull together those who wish to be part of it and to go out and bulk purchase with a large energy customer," said Mr. Thayer.
Mr. Nowak asked if there was a guarantee that rates would always be cheaper than PSE&G. Mr. Thayer said it would specifically state that in the contract. If it is not, it would be lined up with the rate changes every year "to make sure than under no circumstance whatsoever that someone would not be paying more with this than with Public Service."
"We would never go into a contract unless there were savings available," said Mr. Thayer.
Jersey Energy’s website says its service can save residents up to 20 percent on monthly electric bills. People would continue to receive the same bill, and could count on the same line repair and outage service through the local utility.
Resident Jane Wynn asked if the town going to be a "blanket move" on this. Mr. Thayer explained that if you did not have the service, you would receive mail explaining it. If you wanted, you could go on the Internet, call the tollfree 800 number or check ‘no’ and send it back to opt out.
"I hope I don’t miss something in the mail when it comes when I want to opt out," said Ms. Wynn.
Ms. Whilesmith told everyone you can opt out at any time, but Ms. Wynn said she didn’t even want to go it.
In about three or four months Mr. Thayer said they were going to send out mailers to everyone to come to town hall to talk about it.
"I think you are going to realize that it is the best option," he said.
Ms. Wynn said she didn’t want to be forced to move to another supplier. She said she wanted to stay with the service she has and, if she wants to change it, she will do it on her own. She received a round of applause.
Mayor Corradino said, "The way I understood it last week, you were going to solicit residents and it was their option if they wanted to opt in or not. What I heard tonight, that everyone is opted in and it is their option to opt out."
Ms. Whilesmith responded it would be all inclusive, except for people who already have a third-party supplier contract.
"With all due respect to you guys, this is two different stories here from one week to the other," said Mayor Corradino.
"The whole goal of this program is to lower the bill for everyone," Mr. Thayer said. He said typically after they finish a public outreach campaign, only about 4 to 6 percent of residents actually opt out.
"It’s a highly successful program and we enjoy 90-percent plus participation after the education process," he said.
Ms. Lessing cautioned, "You better think this one through, Mr. Mayor, or you are going to have a lot of people ringing your phone."
Councilwoman Susan Asher said she thought "members of this community should have the option to opt in and they already have that option to go third party. I do not feel that us as council people should vote for the whole town to go with this program and opt out." She received applause for her comment.
Councilman Ed Komoroski asked if a questionnaire could be sent to residents to see what interest there would be.
"I know you have to price it and if 10 percent of the town wants it, it is not going to be worth the while," he said. "Ninety percent are going to opt out right off the bat so isn’t there anyway you would find out what the consensus of the residents are."
Mayor Corradino said that he agreed with Ms. Asher that it should be an opt in, not an opt out/

