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SUSTAINABLE  DELAYED 2022-23 CONTRACT AFTER SUSTAINBLE FIRST SOUGHT ESCO BIDS FOR NEW CONTRACT RETURNED “TOO HIGH” BIDS ACROSS THE BOARD, MARKET INSTABILITY

WPCNR THE POWER STORY. By John F. Bailey. July 19, 2022:

Sustainable Westchester has turned back to Transparent Energy the national leader in online energy procurement to hold another auction for lower fixed rates using the national analysis and comparative profiles of energy suppliers relied on by Transparent Energy.

The bringing of Transparent Energy on Board was first announced by Transparent Energy July 1. The company said in a release to energy suppliers it had been appointed to conduct auctions for a Sustainable Westchester Request for Proposals for energy bids with a target date of having a new fixed energy rate by November 1.

The new contract was verified by Transparent Energy.

That Sustainable Westchester has reunited with Transparent Energy that has negotiated the recently expired contract now being fulfilled (by state law) by Con Edison at approximately  9 cents per kilowatt hour compared to 7.48 cents per klw hour, the prior Sustainable Green energy rate. That costs a Sustainable  green rate customer using 800 kwh hours in July, $77 compared to $56 in June, $20 more. If that green rate customer uses 900 kwh hours (with the extreme heat this month), they pay approximately $81—compared to $68 at the 7.48 cent June rate, $13 more.   If you use   1,000 kwh hours that costs $90 at the 9 cents average Con Ed rate now, compared to $75 at the old June 7.5 cent rate, $15 more, plus taxes

Maria Genovisi, Marketing Consultant for Sustainable Westchester responding to WPCNR inquiries issued this  written statement:

All is well here at the organization despite the temporary pause in the Westchester Power program

The pause is temporary and, in fact, we are going to bid for the new contract in the coming days.

The result of that successful effort would mean that the program would start again in the fall (likely November).

This lead time from contract bid award to start is related to compliance requirements for notification and outreach.

The events that precipitated the pause had to do with energy market pricing due to the global events, consumption concerns, etc. The timing for the new contract coincided with these energy market shifts.

Although we worked toward solutions for several months, ultimately we, along with the approval from participating municipalities, we recommended that in order to try to secure the best economic value and terms for the next contract the prudent course of action would be to temporarily pause the program.

Importantly we do also want to clarify that Con Ed had nothing to do with the pause and did not take over those accounts in a way that was anything but compliant with the law.

 They as the default designated energy supplier (by the State) have the accounts shift back to them. In fact, all in all, we have and do work well with Con Ed from an operating level.”

That Sustainable Westchester has reunited with Transparent Energy is interesting. Transparent Energy negotiated the recently expired contract two years ago.

Currently municipalities in the 28 communities in the consortium previously supplied their electricity by Sustainable are now being fulfilled (by state law) by Con Edison at approximately  9 cents per kilowatt hour compared to 7.48 cents per klw hour, the prior Sustainable Green energy rate.

That costs a Sustainable  green rate customer now today using 800 kwh hours in July, $72 compared to $56 in June, $16 more than the old green rate of 7.48 cents a kwh.

If that green rate customer uses 900 kwh hours (with the extreme heat this month), they pay approximately $81—compared to $68 at the 7.48 cent June rate, $13 more.   If you use   1,000 kwh hours that costs $90 at the 9 cents average Con Ed rate now, compared to $75 at the old June 7.5 cent rate, $15 more, plus taxes

WPCNR SHORE PATROL . From the Governor’s Press Office. July 18, 2022:

In the wake of shark attacks in shallow waters off Long Island Governor Kathy Hochul today directed the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the State Police to implement heightened patrols and surveillance of shark activity, including drone and helicopter monitoring, along the Long Island State Park Beaches due to recent shark encounters in the Atlantic Ocean waters off of the South Shore.

The Governor also directed state agencies to expand public outreach efforts on shark safety resources and education to help beachgoers stay safe.  

“As New Yorkers and visitors alike head to our beautiful Long Island beaches to enjoy the summer, our top priority is their safety,” Governor Hochul said. “We are taking action to expand patrols for sharks and protect beachgoers from potentially dangerous situations. I encourage all New Yorkers to listen to local authorities and take precautions to help ensure safe and responsible beach trips this summer.” 

At the Governor’s direction, State Parks will increase lifeguard staffing through overtime at ocean beaches by 25 percent.

This will translate to approximately two to four lifeguards within each field, which will boost surveillance for sharks and other marine life from the shore, by surfboats, and through an enhanced drone beach surveillance program.

There will also be additional surveillance measures through expanded drone availability, increasing from one to three available drones at Jones Beach State Park and one to two available drones at Robert Moses State Park, and Hither Hills State Park will be assigned its first drone.

Park Police also have one drone available to respond as needed. Drone surveillance capabilities at Long Island State Park beaches will also expand from the current four miles to 11 miles. 

Additionally, State Parks has acquired extra drone batteries and rapid battery chargers to extend the duration of available drone surveillance. Long Island State Parks has 13 certified drone operators, with six more operators expected to complete certification in the coming weeks. 

Other new actions include: 

• Deploying Park Police patrol boats to search the water. 
• Dispatching New York State Police helicopter patrols over the South Shore waters. 
• Distributing outreach materials focused on education via social media, DEC listserv, and website to the public. 
• Bolstering federal, state, county, and local partnerships to share resources and information about potential shark sightings and better support correct identification of sharks and other fish. 

Under State Park shark safety guidelines,

Swimming is suspended following a shark sighting so the shoreline can be inspected by drone.

Swimming is only allowed to resume at least an hour after the last sighting in order to better protect beach visitors.

 All sightings are referred to the Long Island Coastal Awareness Group, which consists of 180 individuals from municipalities, agencies, and private beach operators stretching from Queens through Long Island.

State Park lifeguards are continuously scanning and patrolling the waters and are on the lookout for any sharks or other potentially dangerous marine life. 

To minimize the risk of shark interactions, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation advises the following shark safety tips: 

• Avoid areas with seals. 
• Avoid areas with schools of bait fish, often characterized by fish splashing on the surface, diving sea birds, or the presence of marine mammals such as dolphins. 
• Avoid areas where people are fishing. 
• Avoid swimming in the ocean at dusk, dawn, or nighttime. 
• Avoid murky water.   
• Avoid isolation. Swim, paddle, kayak, and surf in groups. 
• Swim close to shore, where your feet can touch the bottom. 
• Always follow the instructions of lifeguards and Parks staff. 
• Adhere to all signage at beaches.