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Stockton renews participation in Hunterdon Area Energy Cooperative to secure lower electricity costs
Summary
Stockton Borough Council voted 5–0 on March 26 to reauthorize participation in the Hunterdon Area Energy Cooperative, continuing a bulk purchasing program run via Concord Energy Services that the council says will yield estimated savings of 4–7% for enrolled residents unless they opt out.
Stockton Borough Council unanimously approved a resolution on March 26 to complete and submit the 2026 participation form for the Hunterdon Area Energy Cooperative, continuing the borough’s role in a countywide energy-aggregation program.
Mayor Aaron Lipsen and Borough Attorney Lisa Maddox told residents the borough originally authorized participation by ordinance and must periodically rejoin the cooperative for each auction cycle. Maddox said Concord Energy Services will prepare an RFP and run an online auction to solicit licensed electric suppliers for the cooperative’s residential accounts.
The borough automatically enrolled customers in previous rounds with an opt‑out provision; Lipsen said the program also allows the municipality to contract its municipal accounts through the cooperative and estimated participating residents would see roughly 4–7% lower energy costs. Council President Mann moved approval and Councilmember Gilinger seconded; the roll call vote was Brown, Fisher, Gilinger, Mann and Meltzer — Ayes 5, Nays 0.
The resolution directs the mayor to authorize an appropriate borough representative to return the HAEC participation form to Concord Energy Services before the April 17, 2026 deadline. The cooperative is listed as DCA ID #270HAEC in the resolution materials and Concord Energy Services was named as the energy consultant for the HAEC.
If the cooperative’s auction does not secure a lower price, Maddox reminded the public the borough is not bound to unfavorable contracts and participating residents retain opt‑out rights. The council did not set any immediate municipal expenditures as part of the vote.
