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NOPEC representative outlines enrollment, grant formula and upcoming customer letters
Summary
A NOPEC representative told the City of Geneva council the community has long participated in the regional electric and gas aggregation program, explained how grant funds are generated and notified residents to expect state-mandated enrollment letters this spring.
Jenny Costanza, a NOPEC relationship manager, told the City of Geneva council that Geneva has participated in NOPEC's electric and gas aggregation program for 23 years and described how the group's bulk buying generates community grant funds. She said Geneva currently has 1,235 electric accounts and 1,026 gas accounts enrolled, and that NOPEC's grant formula returns $6 per electric account and $4 per gas account to dual-power communities.
Costanza said the grants must be invested in energy-efficiency projects and gave LED lighting upgrades as an example. She explained the grants are negotiated separately from supply rates and described how NOPEC has used buying power across 243 communities to secure lower market rates and sponsor community grants and programs.
Costanza warned residents to expect a state-mandated enrollment letter between about April 15 and the first week in May. She said the letters notify customers that staying in NOPEC requires no action and instruct those who want to leave how to opt out; she added that NOPEC cannot contact customers who have already chosen another supplier. She described options available to customers who stay on NOPEC, including the default program price for gas (Costanza said the program price for June–August would be $4.99 per MCF) and alternatives such as 12- or 24-month fixed contracts or price options tied to utility charges. She also said electricity prices in the PJM market were expected to rise about 15–20% in June because a capacity charge increased dramatically at last year’s auction.
Costanza urged residents with questions to consult the NOPEC website and offered to help attendees check whether they were on NOPEC or another supplier. She noted NOPEC operates as a nonprofit governed by a board of representatives from participating counties and that the organization annually undergoes audits.
Council members praised the energy-efficiency grants and sponsorship funds that have benefited local projects and summer events. Costanza left informational flyers on how to read energy bills and contact information for assistance.
