Since 2018, Glen Ridge has joined with several other towns as the Sustainable Essex Alliance to put our collective purchasing power to work to provide cleaner, greener electricity to our residents at competitive, if not lower, prices.
The first contract came to an end in December of 2020. Now the original SEA member towns of Glen Ridge, Maplewood, Montclair, South Orange, and Verona are joined by Glen Rock and Livingston for a new 17-month contract beginning in April of 2021 with third party provider Energy Harbor. This contract has two options: the default option that everyone will automatically receive or a 100% renewable energy option that residents must choose.
Energy Harbor Default Option
Energy Harbor 100% Renewable Option
The price of $0.12696 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) is below the current average PSE&G Basic Generation Service tariff price for power supply. While the net PSE&G price-to-compare does fluctuate on a monthly basis (as compared to the steady and predictable price for the SEA program contract), and therefore actual savings will vary by month and cannot be guaranteed, the typical resident in Glen Ridge and the other SEA-participating municipalities is still projected to save about $20 over the full contract as compared to the average PSE&G tariff price-to-compare over that period.
Opt-Out, Opt-Up - What Do I Have To Do?
Nothing, if you want to receive the default option. You will be automatically enrolled in the SEA R-GEA program unless you submit an “opt-out” request during the 30-day opt-out period, which ends March 7, 2021.
If you want the 100% renewable energy option you must “opt-up” during the 30-day period, which ends March 7, 2021.
Opt-up or opt-out in one of three ways:
If you do not opt out by March 7, 2021 you will be enrolled; however, you may still leave the SEA R-GEA program at any time thereafter.
Public Information Meeting
For residents seeking additional information, we have scheduled a Public Information Session from 6:00pm to 7:00pm on February 16, 2021. In order to assure the public’s safety, the Session will be conducted electronically rather than in person, using the same call-in instructions that are being employed for the Borough council meetings.
Online Meeting Link: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/tventola
Online Meeting ID: tventola
Dial-In Number: (351) 888-6756
The Borough’s energy consultant, Gabel Associates, will make a brief presentation and answer questions.
If you cannot make the meeting on the 16th, you may attend other meetings scheduled for the other SEA towns, listed below:
Verona:
Public Information Session from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on February 16, 2021. The Session will be conducted electronically using the same call-in instructions that are being employed for the Township Council meetings: Webinar ID: 994 7813 6989; iPhone one-tap : US: +16465189805, 99478136989# or +13126266799, 99478136989#; Dial-In Number: US: +1 646 518 9805; Link: https://zoom.us/j/99478136989
South Orange:
Public Information Session from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on February 18, 2021. The Session will be conducted electronically using the same call-in instructions that are being employed for the Board of Trustees’ meetings: Event number: 179 885 8010; Event Passcode: soenergy; By Phone: 408-418-9388 (US Toll); By Webex:
https://southorange.webex.com/southorange/onstage/g.php?MTID=e2ee6d5b944bf00c59a64300192e92348
Livingston:
Public Information Session from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on February 23, 2021. The Session will be conducted electronically using the same call-in instructions that are being employed for the Township Council meetings: iPhone one-tap : US: +13017158592, 87220563273#, *081773# or +13126266799, 87220563273#, *081773#; Phone Dial-In Number (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location: US: +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128; Webinar ID: 872 2056 3273; Passcode: 081773; Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87220563273?pwd=NG10NHpYNTltVHQvL09UNUZkdXJtZz09
Montclair:
Public Information Session from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on February 23, 2021. The Session will be conducted electronically using the same call-in instructions that are being employed for the Township Council meetings. See www.montclairnjusa.org for call in information. Call in information is also listed here: Access Code: 179 062 5219; Passcode: SEAcea223!!; Dial-In: 1-408-418-9388 US Toll; Webex:
https://montclairnj.webex.com/montclairnj/onstage/g.php?MTID=ecc4113c1acbf77fb236e9338b7ef9c6c
Maplewood:
Public Information Session from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on February 24, 2021. The Session will be conducted electronically using the same call-in instructions used for the Township Committee meetings: Webinar Link: https://twp-maplewood-nj-us.zoom.us/j/96668646085; or iPhone one-tap: US: +19292056099, 96668646085# or +13017158592, 96668646085#; or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799. Webinar ID: 966 6864 6085
Glen Rock:
Public Information Session from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on February 25, 2021 via Zoom. iPhone one-tap: US: +13126266799, 83278882673#, *713331# or +16465588656, 83278882673#, *713331#; Dial in US: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782; Webinar ID: 832 7888 2673; Passcode: 713331. You may also use this link, which is also posted on the website:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83278882673?pwd=TDcrMDBuS1Ywejg2cXAvWlo1U1hyQT09
Q&A
Q: What is happening with the town's energy program?
A: In July 2019, the Borough of Glen Ridge joined with four other municipalities (known as Sustainable Essex Alliance, or SEA) to purchase cheaper and greener energy for our residents. Our 17-month contract with Direct Energy ends in December 2020. We are happy to report that the aggregate savings from all Glen Ridge residents that participated in the program was $192,000 in the first 12 months of our contract. SEA has now grown to seven towns (with Montclair, Maplewood, South Orange, Verona, Glen Rock, and Livingston) for a total of 120,000 households. SEA successfully negotiated a new contract with Energy Harbor, starting March 2021. In the interim two months, energy supply will automatically default to PSE&G.
Q: I am bombarded by calls and emails from PSE&G and various energy companies. What should I do?
A: Nothing! SEA has done all the work for you. PSE&G is simply informing you that they will provide our electric and gas during the period of two months between our green energy contracts. You can disregard communications from all other suppliers.
Q: Will there be any disruption to my service?
A: None whatsoever. PSE&G will remain our energy distributor and will continue to serve our community regardless of our contracted energy supplier.
Q: Will this affect my bill?
A: No. Your bill, like your service, will continue to come from PSE&G regardless of our contracted supplier. SEA negotiated a rate of $.12696/kwh, which is both cheaper and greener than the current average supply (Basic Generation Service tariff price) of PSE&G.
DOCUMENTS (click on links below)::