Community Choice Aggregation

The purpose of Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is to allow participating local governments to procure energy supply service and distributed energy resources (DER) for eligible energy customers in the community. These customers will have the opportunity to opt out of the procurement.

CCA allows local governments to work together through a shared purchasing model to put out for bid the total amount of electricity and/or natural gas being purchased by eligible customers within the jurisdictional boundaries of participating municipalities. Eligible customers will have the opportunity to have more control to lower their overall energy costs, to spur clean energy innovation and investment, to improve customer choice and value, and to protect the environment, thereby fulfilling an important public purpose.

NYSERDA has developed the toolkit below to assist local governments and CCA Administrators to develop CCA programs in New York State. Additional toolkit elements are still under development, and those elements will be added to the toolkit as they are completed. NYSERDA also anticipates that this toolkit will be a dynamic resource, reflecting additional developments in the continuing evolution of the energy markets as they affect CCA efforts.

It is not required that communities participate in NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Communities program in order to pursue CCA.

For assistance using this toolkit, please do not hesitate to send an email to [email protected].

• Fact Sheet [PDF]
  This fact sheet provides a brief description of the Community Choice Aggregation action along with the benefits communities can expect to achieve. 
• CCA Program Rules [PDF]
  The Department of Public Service (DPS) has prepared this CCA Program Rules document to provide details on requirements for CCAs in New York State. 
• Community Energy Use Data
  This is a link to aggregated customer load data for electric and natural gas, segmented by customer type and by municipality. This data can help tell a story about how communities use energy and to evaluate the impact of Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) and other clean energy technologies.
• CCA Frequently Asked Questions [PDF]
  This document provides answers to commonly asked questions pertaining to CCA in New York State that municipalities may use to answer questions from their community.
• CCA Administrator Request for Proposals Template [DOCX]
  This template Request for Proposals (RFP) may be used as a resource by municipalities in developing their own solicitations for CCA Administrator Services. This is not in any way mandatory or required, and is offered only to assist municipalities who may wish to see a reference document to aid in their own municipality-specific procurement process.
• Template Master Implementation Plan [PDF]
  Any entity seeking Public Service Commission approval to administer a CCA must submit a Master Implementation Plan. The purpose is to clearly define how CCA Administrators plan to offer services to municipalities in New York State. Any municipality choosing to serve in the role of CCA Administrator must receive approval for its Master Implementation Plan. Municipalities implementing a CCA through an existing, approved CCA Administrator do not need to use this template and instead should refer to the Municipal Filing Template below. A list of authorized CCA Administrators can be found at the Department of Public Service CCA Website.
• Municipal Filing Template [PDF]
  Each municipality electing to implement a CCA must submit a filing and receive approval by the Public Service Commission. The purpose is to clearly define the CCA Program goals, milestones, and deliverables, while also defining the roles and responsibilities of each project partner. It also addresses the CCA approach to public engagement, outreach, and education.
• Data Security Agreement Template [PDF]
  CCAs must execute an agreement with their local utility that ensures the CCA will implement certain data security measures to maintain the privacy of utility customers. A Data Security Agreement must be executed before a CCA is eligible to receive customer data from the local utility.
• Template CCA Authorizing Legislation [DOCX]
  This template legislation may be used as a resource by municipalities in developing their own authorization for participation in a CCA program.
• Template Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) [DOCX]
  This sample MOU may be used as a resource by municipalities to participate in a specific CCA program with a third-party CCA Administrator.
• Template Inter-Municipal Agreement (IMA) [DOCX]
  This sample IMA may be used as a resource by municipalities to participate in a specific CCA program where the CCA Administrator is a municipal government.
• Template Opt-out Letter [PDF]
  This is intended as a resource for municipalities in fulfilling the Commission’s requirement that an opt-out letter be sent to all eligible customers providing information and education prior to commencement of the CCA. The opt-out letter is subject to Department of Public Service Staff approval.
• Public Service Commission (PSC) CCA Order [PDF]
  The PSC Order on CCA sets forth the requirements, terms, and conditions under which CCA programs can proceed through implementation.