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Letter To The Editor: Westchester Power Reduces Utility Rates

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — The Greenburgh Daily Voice accepts signed and original letters to the editor up to 350 words. To submit your letter, email greenburgh@dailyvoice.com.

Paul Feiner, Greenburgh supervisor

Paul Feiner, Greenburgh supervisor

Photo Credit: Greenburgh website

To the Editor:

Earlier this year Greenburgh and about 20 communities in Westchester approved an agreement with westchesterpower.org to purchase power in bulk.

When we approved the agreement, we advised residents who reside in the town that their Con Ed rates could go down. There were no guarantees of savings. 

One important aspect of this initiative is that prices are fixed for two years. The rates can't go up. If Con Ed rates go up, ours won't. We have a two-year protection against rate hikes, which is good. 

However, rates fluctuate. 

If Con Ed rates go down, ours stay the same during the two-year period.

During the past six months, utility prices have been low, so the savings per customer has not been substantial. Based off the August detail, the average savings comes to a little less than $3 a month.

If we extrapolate out the total dollars for this period for Greenburgh, calling it $15 an account for the five months, it comes to about $192,000. 

August is probably higher consumption, so maybe it's a bit lower than that, but anyway if that was a tax cut, one might have reason to feel somewhat pleased. 

There are months when ratepayers did not save as much. That could change within the two-year contract agreement.

Con Ed rates could go up much more than they have in the past six months.

For more information visit the "rates so far" section at westchesterpower.org.

Every utility customer that isn't a member of an existing ESCO in Greenburgh is enrolled in the program, but you can always opt out if you'd like by contacting the company. 

I continue to believe that ratepayers should stay in the program because everyone has saved a little so far, which is better than no savings at all.

At the time we entered into the agreement, I promised to provide you with periodic status reports and will continue to do so.

Paul Feiner, Greenburgh Town Supervisor

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