Maplewood is both a member and the Lead Agency of the Sustainable Essex Alliance (SEA), a Government Energy Aggregation. Our SEA municipal partners are Glen Ridge, Montclair, Verona, Livingston, South Orange and Glen Rock. We formed the SEA Energy Procurement Cooperative (“SEAEPC”) so we could leverage our combined resident pool to purchase electricity at lower rates than PSE&G’s basic generation rate, with an enhanced renewable energy content.

How do we choose an alternative energy supplier?

Government Energy Aggregations in New Jersey are highly regulated by State Statute through the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). We choose alternative electricity suppliers through a competitive procurement process. We issue Requests for Proposals for bids from State- licensed electric power suppliers and award the contract to the lowest bidder if the projected rate over the life of the contract will produce cost savings and enhanced renewable content. It is important to note that these contracts are only for the electricity supply portion of our electric bills.

Why doesn't the SEA have a contract now?

Since our Round 2 contract expired in September 2022, energy prices have increased considerably, which has made it difficult to obtain favorable bid pricing as compared to the PSE&G tariff. In advance of that contract expiration, the SEAEPC conducted a competitive bid process in May 2022. Unfortunately, bid prices came back too high and would not have produced savings to justify the award of a new contract. The SEAEPC concluded that it was in residents’ best interests in the short-term to return to PSE&G Basic Generation Service.

What can residents expect going forward?

The SEAEPC will continue to monitor market conditions for improved opportunities to award a Round 3 contract. If the SEAEPC awards a new contract for a third round, all residents -- except those that have their own solar generating system or their own third-party supply contract -- will be notified. Thereafter, residents would have the choice of opting-out of the new program.

Why is this an opt-out, instead of an opt-in, program?

Many residents have this question. Again, these aggregations are heavily regulated by the BPU. The BPU requires that as a feature of the program all residential customers, except as noted above, are considered beneficiaries of the aggregation. A residential customer has to submit an opt-out response within 30 calendar-days after the postmark on the notice of the aggregation, or be automatically included in the program. Residents with additional questions are encouraged to contact the SEAEPC energy consultant, Gabel Associates: SEA-info@gabelassociates.com.