Energy Savings Program Opt-Out Mailings Expected in July

Toms River residents should receive an opt-out letter next month which must be returned should they not want to participate in an energy savings program could save them on average more than $110 each year. 

Users can expect a 12.7 percent cost savings under the Dominion Energy Solutions rate when compared to JCP&L, according to township attorney Kenneth Fitzsimmons. That amounts to an average savings of $9.50 each month, or $114 annually.

Anyone who does not want to participate must return a mailing that is expected to be sent out in July, said township Business Administrator Paul Shives. The program will begin in Toms River on Sept. 15. 

Consultant Gable Associates of Highland Park is managing the program for Toms River. Bids were recently returned, and Dominion came in the lowest.

“It offers the greatest savings over the period of time,” Fitzsimmons said at a recent Township Council meeting where the bid was accepted.

The rate is locked in for 21 months and users can opt-out at any time with no penalty, according to Robert Chilton, executive vice president for Gable Associates.

Residents who already use a third party supplier will remain with that company unless they want to switch to the township’s program, according to Chilton.

Under the program, JCP&L remains responsible for the electricity distribution and others purchase it from their grid. By pooling many customers together, such as a township, aggregators are able to buy in bulk at a reduced rate and pass on the savings.

The township makes no money on the program, officials have said. Electric bills will remain the same in appearance and customers can continue to call JCP&L for any service issues.

Some at a February information session were critical about the township getting involved with an opt-out energy aggregation program.

"It just seems very 'Big Brother'-ish to me," said resident Gail Miller at the time. She criticized the opt-out nature of the program.

Energy aggregation programs used to operate under an opt-in model, but that process yielded insignificant results for enrollment. The law was changed to allow for an opt-out procedure.