Frequently Asked Questions
What is Community Choice Aggregation?
On April 21, 2016, the NYS Public Service Commission enabled Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Opt-Out Programs, which offer residential and small commercial customers opportunities to receive more attractive energy supply terms using the bargaining power leveraged from aggregation.
What is a CCA Administrator?
The CCA Administrator is a company, non-profit, or local government that has been authorized by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to administer a CCA Program in New York State. The CCA Administrator works with the municipality (if the municipality is not the actual Administrator) to design and implement a CCA Program consistent with the goals of the municipality and its constituents while adhering to CCA Program requirements required by the PSC. The CCA Administrator solicits bids, awards a supply contract, and performs necessary program education and outreach to ensure residents are well-informed about the Program. The CCA Administrator works with the utility to ensure proper enrollment.
What role does my municipality play?
The municipality is the primary party responsible for meeting the requirements established by the Public Service Commission. First, to enable CCA in your municipality, a Local Law that allows for opt-out enrollment of eligible residential and small commercial accounts must be passed. The municipality will then administer the CCA Program itself, or select a CCA Administrator to perform the necessary CCA Program requirements.
What does opt-out enrollment mean?
Opt-out enrollment means that you will automatically be enrolled in the CCA Program unless you take action by opting out of the Program. There are multiple ways to do so, including by phone, online, or mail. Specific contact information, the opt-out date, and other important program details will be included in the opt-out letter sent to eligible ratepayers. If you opt out of the CCA Program and wish to enroll at a future time, you must proactively reach out to the program supplier; you will never be sent another opt-out letter.
Who is eligible to participate?
Most residential and small commercial customers are eligible to be enrolled in the CCA Program. However, if you have placed a supplier block on your account, or are currently receiving supply services from a third-party supplier, you will not be eligible for opt-out enrollment, but may proactively opt in by contacting the program supplier. If you are an Assistance Program Participant (APP), you will be eligible to participate only if the CCA Program offers approved guaranteed savings.
Does the CCA Program replace my utility company?
No, the CCA Program does not replace your utility. You will still receive one bill from your utility company, however, the supply section of your bill will show the name of the third-party supplier/CCA Program. The utility will still be responsible for your billing and respond to any service issues.
Will I save money on my monthly bill?
Unless you are receiving a guaranteed savings supply product, e.g., required for APP customers, there is no savings guarantee over the utility supply rate. However, the ability to aggregate or pool the demand of ratepayers within the Town would potentially lead to competitive pricing for CCA Program participants, yielding greater savings than what the average individual account holder would normally experience.
(If, in the future, your municipality decides to offer a program for electricity and chooses a renewable supply product, you may pay a premium over the default utility supply rate).
How will my bill change?
You will continue to receive your bill from the utility company. Only the Supply portion of your bill will change. This section will include the name of the third-party supplier and CCA Administrator serving your municipality’s program.
Is the Merchant Function Charge included in the Program supply rate?
Yes, the Merchant Function Charge is included.
What products are available?
Your municipality selects which supply products will be offered, including the default program supply product; if eligible to participate in the Program, this is the product in which you will be automatically enrolled. Overall, these products can be a standard supply product or, for electric supply, a renewable product. While your municipality will decide what the default product will be, you may have other product options available to you. Contact the CCA Administrator to find out more.
How do I opt out?
You may opt out of the Program by phone, online, or by mail. The specific contact information, as well as the date by which you must opt out, will be included in the opt-out letter.
Can I participate if I opted out previously?
Yes, you can always opt back into the Program after previously opting out, but you may need to wait until the next billing period for the change to take effect. Contact the CCA Administrator to join the Program.
Will this program affect my APP status?
No, the CCA Program will not affect APP status. If a CCA intends to serve Assistance Program Participants, it must first get PSC approval for the guaranteed savings product.
Is there a fee or penalty to opt out or leave the Program?
No, there is never a fee to leave the Program.
What account information is shared?
Customer energy usage data is aggregated, anonymized, and used for bid solicitations. This data does not contain any customer-specific details. Your name and address are provided to send the opt-out letter which contains all relevant program details. Upon enrollment, your information, including energy usage data and APP status, will be provided to the third-party supplier serving the CCA Program.
How is my information being protected?
Before receiving any data from the utility, the CCA Administrator and third-party supplier must sign a Data Security Agreement (DSA) with your utility. The DSA ensures they have the appropriate cybersecurity and privacy protections in place to protect your information.
Who may I contact to report a problem or voice a complaint?
Complaints should be made to the CCA Administrator, Municipal Liaison, or the third-party supplier. The information will be listed on the opt-out letter and this program website. Complaints may always be directed to the NYS Department of Public Service Office of Consumer Services at (800) 342-3377.