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Municipal electric utilities are publicly owned and operated electric systems, wherein a municipal corporation operates facilities to generate, transmit, and/or distribute electricity (see MEUA). This is different from most major utilities like New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG), National Grid, or Consolidated Edison, which are private, profit-seeking corporations. These are often referred to as Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs). Municipal electric companies are owned by the local government and generally offer electric rates that are lower than the IOUs.
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Electric cooperatives (co-ops) are not-for-profit entities that provide electricity to their members. Unlike municipal electric utilities, which are run by municipal corporations, co-ops are owned and operated by the members they serve, giving everyone in the community a democratic voice in how the co-op is run. Membership is also voluntary, in contrast to municipal electric utilities, which provide electricity to all households without a required membership.
Learn more about electric co-ops at https://steubenrec.coop/7-cooperative-principles.
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There are five village-led utilities in the Southern Tier, listed below:
There are also two electric cooperatives in the Southern Tier, listed below:
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Depending on your municipality, being a municipal electric customer may mean you’re benefiting from renewable energy. The Village of Groton, for example, purchases its electrical power from Niagara Falls [pdf], a 100% renewable source.
Options regarding incentives for home energy improvements are generally more limited for municipal electricity customers than those who receive electricity from major utilities like NYSEG. However, there are still several programs that municipal electricity customers have access to, as listed below. We encourage residents to contact a Community Energy Advisor for more information and help navigating these programs.
● Empower+: This is a state program administered by NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) that includes a free comprehensive home energy assessment and financial discounts on the cost of energy efficiency improvements. This program doesn’t provide consistent funding for municipal electric customers, particularly those who don’t receive their natural gas from NYSEG or other major utilities. We encourage residents to apply online to verify funding access.
● Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP): This is a federal program administered by NYS Homes and Community Renewal with funding for weatherization improvements. Locate your local WAP provider.
● IEEP: The Independent Energy Efficiency Program (IEEP) provides incentives for municipal electricity customers, but not for residents under electric cooperatives. To learn more, visit the IEEP program website.
● Tax credits: Municipal electricity customers can access a federal tax credit of 30% up to $1,200 for weatherizing their homes, as well as 30% up to $2,000 for air source heat pumps and 30% for ground source heat pumps. Residents can also access a state tax credit of 25% for ground source heat pumps.
● OTDA: At times, the Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance (OTDA) provides funds for municipal electricity customers who currently use the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly known as Food Stamps). When these funds are available, they can be accessed by applying to Empower+ and attaching your current HEAP or SNAP award letter.
Your municipality may also offer assistance for clean energy improvements. Call your local village or municipal office for information on local resources.
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Like some municipal electric utilities, some electric co-ops provide electricity from renewable sources. The Delaware County Electric Cooperative, for example, states on its website that 90% of the power distributed by the co-op comes from the Niagara Project, which is a source of clean hydro renewable electricity website. Members can also voluntarily join its GO 100% GREEN program, which allows the remaining 10% to be environmentally friendly as well.
In the case of clean energy benefits, your co-op may offer its own energy-related assistance to its members. In the Southern Tier, the Steuben Rural Electric Cooperative offers a commercial LED program, a residential weatherization program, an energy efficiency program, and a farm efficiency program. You can find more information about its offerings at https://steubenrec.coop/rebate-programs. The Delaware County Electric Cooperative offers an ENERGY STAR appliance rebate program and assistance for smart thermostats. Learn more about its offerings at https://steubenrec.coop/rebate-programs.
As for state and federal assistance programs, we encourage residents to ask their electric co-op representatives for concrete information about what programs assist electric co-op members. Steuben Rural Electric, for example, provides guidance for its members to apply for aid through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). You can also contact a Community Energy Advisor for further help navigating energy assistance programs.