County reports more than $200,000 in 2023 savings from solar and hydro credits; contracts lock rates for decades

County staff reported that Sullivan County’s solar and hydroelectric projects generated more than $200,000 in net savings for the county in a partial 2023 accounting and described the long‑term contracts that underpin those savings.

Staff said that from January through August 2023 the county purchased hydroelectric credits costing $168,794.69 that offset $296,634.82 in NYSEG bills (net savings $127,837.13). Over the same period the county purchased solar credits for $80,986.30 that offset $161,811.49 in bills (net savings $80,825.19). Staff characterized total savings in that period as more than $200,000. The county credited the savings to contracts signed under the prior monetary remote net metering rules.

At the meeting staff said the solar contract rate is effectively locked at 7.1 cents per kilowatt hour and that the hydro contract began at about 8.2 cents per kilowatt hour with a roughly 2% annual escalator. County staff said the solar contract began in 2017 and runs for 20 years (through about 2037); the hydro contract began after service started in 2022 and runs for 20 years (through about 2042).

Staff emphasized that the projects were grandfathered into older metering provisions (monetary remote net metering/value stack) that provided full monetary credit for generation and that the contracts are long‑term instruments that produce savings relative to current utility supply and delivery rates. Staff pledged to provide updated, current savings figures in a future report.

Ending: Staff said they will continue to track and report the fiscal impact of renewable projects and would provide an updated accounting when available.