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Government Energy Aggregation Program

Post by: Lisa Hibbs

Welcome to the Residential Energy Aggregation webpage for the Hunterdon Area Energy Cooperative (HAEC). On this page you will find information specific to the HAEC program. Feel free to browse the rest of our site for other general energy aggregation information.

The Hunterdon Area Energy Cooperative was formed on May 28, 2018, for the purpose of pooling purchasing and negotiating power for better energy pricing on electricity supply for residential customers. Since April 2019, residents participating in the HAEC’s Energy Aggregation Program have saved an aggregate total of over $1.9M. During the most recent auction for the HAEC, held on May 22, 2024, bids received were lower than the JCP&L BGS price to compare, and an award was made to IDT Energy, Inc., and the new contract term began with residents’ September 2024 meter reads and will end with November 2025 meter reads.

The initial program rate for the contract term beginning September 2024 for the Standard Program Option (no additional renewable energy) was $0.1119/kWh, and the program rate for the Green Program Option (100% renewable energy option; residents must opt-in to this program option) was $0.1176/kWh. The JCP&L BGS price-to-compare at the time of the auction was $0.117824/kWh. Information packets containing detailed information about the new rate and term, outreach meeting dates, etc., were mailed to eligible residents in mid-July 2024.

Due to a regulatory change by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, capacity pricing adjustments have impacted electricity rates throughout New Jersey. As a result, JCP&L’s utility’s anticipated price-to-compare as of June 1, 2025, will be:

  • $0.142668/kWh for the first 600 kWh used (June 2025 - September 2025)
  • $0.151893/kWh for usage above 600 kWh (June 2025 - September 2025)
  • $0.15360/kWh (October 2025-May 2026)

Beginning June 1, 2025, through the first meter read date on or after November 30, 2025, the HAEC Community Energy Aggregation Program rates will be:

  • $0.1394/kWh for the Standard Program Option (no additional renewable energy)
  • $0.1494/kWh for the Green Program Option (100% renewable energy)

You may opt out of the HAEC Community Energy Aggregation Program at any time with no fees or penalties. To opt out, please call 877-292-3904 or click here. If you have any questions, please contact the program’s energy agents at 866-688-5197 option 3.

Participating members in the HAEC as of June 1, 2025, include the Borough of Califon (Lead Agency for the cooperative), Bethlehem Township, Town of Clinton, Delaware Township, Flemington Borough, Frenchtown Borough, High Bridge Borough, Kingwood Township, City of Lambertville, Mendham Township, Millburn Township, Peapack & Gladstone Borough, and Washington Township (Morris County).

Program information including a copy of the postcard notice regarding the price adjustment effective 6/1/25, the original information packets mailed in July 2024, a program video, rates and term, and important program dates can be found on this web page by scrolling down. Residents are also encouraged to call the HAEC program’s energy consultants at 866-688-5197 option 3 with questions about the program.

PROGRAM RATES EFFECTIVE 9/1/24-5/30/25

Options STANDARD GREEN JCP&L's BASIC GENERATION SERVICE
Renewable Energy Content Provides the minimum New Jersey renewable energy requirements Buy renewable electricity to match 100% of your electricity requirements Provides the minimum New Jersey renewable energy requirements
Residential 11.19¢/kWh 11.76¢/kWh 11.78¢/kWh Price at the time of auction
Price Period 09/2024 enrollment - 11/2025 meter read 09/2024 enrollment - 11/2025 meter read
Electric Utility & Bill (call if power goes out) JCP&L JCP&L JCP&L
Electricity Supplier IDT Energy IDT Energy JCP&L
Financial Assistance Yes Yes Yes
Enrollment AUTOMATIC Call 866-688-5197 to enroll in Green Option Call 877-292-3904 to Opt-Out of HAEC Program

PROGRAM RATES EFFECTIVE 6/1/25-11/30/25:

Options STANDARD GREEN JCP&L's BASIC GENERATION SERVICE
Renewable Energy Content Provides the minimum New Jersey renewable energy requirements Buy renewable electricity to match 100% of your electricity requirements Provides the minimum New Jersey renewable energy requirements
Residential 13.94¢/kWh 14.94¢/kWh 15.07¢/kWh Price to Compare at time of price adjustment on 6/1/25
Price Period 06/2025 enrollment - 11/2025 meter read 06/2025 enrollment - 11/2025 meter read
Electric Utility & Bill (call if power goes out) JCP&L JCP&L JCP&L
Electricity Supplier IDT Energy IDT Energy JCP&L
Financial Assistance Yes Yes Yes
Enrollment AUTOMATIC Call 866-688-5197 to enroll in Green Option Call 877-292-3904 to Opt-Out of HAEC Program

Residents who decide to participate in the HAEC Energy Aggregation Program have access to an online savings tool which will provide each participating resident with their monthly usage total, comparison of charges through the program versus JCP&L’s Basic Generation Service price, and usage trends. Residents also have the ability to opt-in and opt-out of the program online and can switch between the different renewable energy options available through the program. More information about how to access these online features is provided in the video posted below under “Communications”. A program information packet is also posted under “Communications”.

Program Rate Options (effective 6/1/25) – Action Required

  • Standard Program Rate $.1394/kWh – Default Program Rate – No Action Required

    This is the standard program rate. If you do nothing, you will automatically be included in the standard program rate. The standard program rate does not include any additional renewable energy over the state mandated requirements.

  • Green Program Rate $.1494/kWh – Action Required

    This program rate is optional. Residents looking to enroll in the Green Option will need to opt-in to this option by calling the program’s energy consultants 866-688-5197 option 3, sending an email to [email protected], or click here (be sure to provide the Program Option (“Green Program Option”) information in “Comments”).

OPT IN Change Program Rate OPT OUT
Important Dates
OTHER KEY DATES

July 15 – August 15, 2024

Initial 30-day opt-out period

September 1, 2024

Program rate takes effect with meter reads after 9/1/24

June 1, 2025

Program rate adjustments take effect with meter reads on or after 6/1/25

November 30, 2025

Program rate expires with meter reads after 11/30/25

PROGRAM DETAILS

Learn about this program and how it can help reduce the cost of your energy bill.

  • What is energy aggregation?

    Government Energy Aggregation (GEA) is a program that came from the passing of the Government Energy Aggregation Act of 2003 by the New Jersey Legislature. This law gave municipalities and counties the ability to aggregate the energy usage of the residential and non-residential ratepayers to conduct a bulk bid or auction in an attempt to get the lowest possible price at that given time in order to maximize the benefits of deregulation to the participants. These benefits include a lower utility cost and an increased number of suppliers to choose from within New Jersey. If a government entity, such as your municipality, chooses to establish this program on your behalf, an RFP will be sent to every third party supplier in New Jersey that is licensed with the Board of Public Utilities. Your municipality is utilizing an independent Consultant to implement a procurement process for a third party supplier to provide energy supply to its residents.

  • How does the program work?

    • This program covers only the power supply portion of your electric bill.

    • The delivery and distribution of electricity under this program will continue to remain the same, through the regulated utility that serves your home.

    • New Jersey’s Retail Choice regulations allow you to purchase power supply from a third party supplier. Most residential electric customers in the State have not switched to a third party supplier; therefore they obtain their power supply from their Local Distribution Company.

    • The municipality has engaged an independent consultant to collect energy usage information, prepare bid specifications, and seek pricing from third party suppliers through a public bid process.

    • All municipality residents are automatically included in the Aggregation program unless they have already chosen a third party supplier.

    • The program will leverage the bulk purchasing power of all of the municipality’s residents to obtain power supply that is less expensive.

    • Although all residential customers in the municipality not currently purchasing from a third party supplier are automatically included in the program, a resident may opt-out of the program if they wish. In order to comply with the state law governing energy aggregation programs, the program must be an opt-out program, versus an opt-in program. N.J.A.C. 14:4-6.3(i): If a residential customer is located within the geographic boundaries of a municipality or county that establishes a government private energy aggregation program, the residential customer shall automatically be included in the program unless the customer indicates [its] his or her desire not to participate in the program by opting-out in accordance with N.J.A.C. 14:4-6.5 and 6.6.

    • The local utility will continue to handle your account, addressing any outages and maintaining service. The only change is the billing and cost of the energy provided.

  • Overall, how does the program benefit the residents?

    The program ensures that they will receive a rate that is lower than what the local utility is currently charging them. It will also give them increased protection in obtaining a third party supplier by eliminating all the confusing fine print. It forces the third party suppliers to compete for your business on an even playing field by giving everyone a price on a larger amount of energy on the same date under the same terms and conditions that are dictated to them through our RFP criteria, rather than them dictating to you what the terms of the contract will be. These criteria can also include a higher percentage of “green” renewable energy that will help create a cleaner environment.

Communications
Program Documents
HAEC Postcard re Price Adjustment
Chester Township Postcard re End of Program
HAEC - FAQ 2024
HAEC - Contract Summary 2024 - Standard Program Option
Directions for Online Access to Program Enrollment
Bethlehem Township Residents Information Packet - July 2024
Califon Borough Residents Information Packet - July 2024
Chester Township Residents Information Packet - July 2024
Clinton (Town of) Residents Information Packet - July 2024
Delaware Township Residents Information Packet - July 2024
Flemington Borough Residents Information Packet - July 2024
Frenchtown Borough Residents Information Packet - July 2024
High Bridge Borough Residents Information Packet - July 2024
Kingwood Township Residents Information Packet - July 2024
Lambertville (City of) Residents Information Packet - July 2024
Mendham Township Residents Information Packet - July 2024
Millburn Township Residents Information Packet - July 2024
Peapack & Gladstone Borough Residents Information Packet - July 2024
Washington Township (Morris County) Residents Information Packet - July 2024

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