Town of Union natural gas customers automatically enrolled in CCA program

TOWN OF UNION, NY – ( WIVT/WBGH ) Residents in the Town of Union are questioning a new program that would raise their natural gas rates right now unless they opt-out.

Natural gas customers have been receiving a letter from the town over the past week announcing a Community Choice Aggregation program administered by an outfit called Good Energy. CCA’s offer a locked-in price over a two year period, providing enough customers participate.

That price usually represents a savings over what users would pay if going with NYSEG’s standard provider. However, in this instance, the initial cost will be around 50% higher than the previous 12 month average that NYSEG has been charging.

Residential rates for NYSEG have been 35 cents per therm while the CCA would charge 53 cents. Small commercial customers would see a similar jump.

What has a number of Union residents upset is that the program is automatic, unless the customer opts out by signing a card and mailing it in.

Town of Union Supervisor Rob Mack tells NewsChannel 34 that the town board voted unanimously to participate in this gas CCA following the success and popularity of a previous electricity CCA. Mack says the electric CCA provider pulled out last July and many residents subsequently complained after they saw their electric rates jump when they returned to NYSEG.

Mack says the current fixed rate being offered by Good Energy seems high only because NYSEG gas rates are currently down due to the mild winter we just had.

And he says all CCA’s operate with opt outs rather than opt ins, so if the town wants to take advantage of the potential savings, they have to accept those terms. Mack stresses that customers can opt in or out at any time without penalty.

The town is planning an informational meeting for Wednesday May 15th at 7 p.m. to answer residents questions. There’s more information available at UnionCCA.com .

Customers have until June 3, 2024 to opt out.

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