Michael Gordon, founder and CEO of Joule Assets, the parent company of Joule Community Power, announced that the Village of Saugerties has earned an Eco Action award for joining a consortium to purchase energy cooperatively, probably saving money by doing so. Joule is seeking to unite Ulster County communities into a consortium that would negotiate electricity costs as a unit. The price of electricity, once negotiated, would not change in response to fluctuations in the energy market. By joining a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) consortium, the village would save at least 21 percent on its energy costs.
Both the Village and the Town of Saugerties have secured a new electricity contract for renewable energy on behalf of their residents and small businesses and by so doing have formally agreed to join the Hudson Valley Community Power program (relaunching in July).
Eligible residents and businesses in both communities will be automatically enrolled, but may withdraw or switch supply options, at any time, without incurring fees or penalties. In mid-May, eligible customers will receive a letter from their municipality that includes information on how to opt out. Those who opt out will receive basic electricity supply service from Central Hudson at the variable utility rate. Regardless of program participation, Central Hudson remains responsible for delivery, repair services, and billing.
The Town of Saugerties was a member of an earlier Joule group. The contract with Joule, through the Columbia Power Co., was intended to last three years, but Columbia pulled out after only one year and has since had financial problems. Despite the termination of the contract, the communities saved some $970,000, Joule representative Jessica Stromback said at a Town Board meeting in March 2023. The village did not join that consortium.
Mayor Bill Murphy said that if the village does join the CCA, he and the board would be prepared to help any resident who wanted to drop out of the program with the necessary paperwork, which trustees agreed would not be difficult to fill out. The program also allows residents to drop out after joining the program and to come back in later.
While Gordon said that the village has earned the Eco Action award, trustees pointed out that the village had not yet contracted to be part of the CCA, but only to take the initial steps of investigating joining. Following the meeting, trustee Donald Hackett said that, while he understood the reason the program has to be based on including residents unless they drop out, he would have been more comfortable with a program that was based on customers choosing to join.
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