Explanation
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to extend its contract with American Municipal Power, Inc. (“AMP”) to allow the City to participate in the green energy program EcoSmart Choice through 2018. The City has been participating in the EcoSmart Choice program since 2013. This program allows the Department of Public Utilities, Division of Power, to continue to offer its electric customers a green energy option. Currently, City facilities that are customers of the Divison of Power are utilizing EcoSmart to offset 20% of their electric energy.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no cost associated with offering this program.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to extend its contract with American Municipal Power to allow the Division of Power to participate in the green energy program EcoSmart Choice and to enroll its water and wastewater plants in the program. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities’ Division of Power owns and operates an electric utility system for the sale of electric power to its customers; and
WHEREAS, American Municipal Power, Inc. (“AMP”) is an Ohio nonprofit corporation that functions as a wholesale power supplier and services provider for certain member municipalities that operate electric systems, including Columbus; and
WHEREAS, AMP has developed a green energy program named EcoSmart Choice. EcoSmart Choice is a program that allows municipal electric providers to give their customers a green pricing option, supported by AMP’s purchase of green / renewable energy electricity products, including the green attributes from energy generated from hydroelectric, wind, landfill gas, and other approved generating facilities; and
WHEREAS, the Division of Power has been participating in EcoSmart Choice since 2013, and wants to continue to offer to its customers the choice of green energy, with participation by any customer being entirely optional; and
WHEREAS, being able to offer its customer’s a voluntary green energy option will make the Division of Power more competitive; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities to authorize the Director to extend its contract to continue the City’s participation in the EcoSmart Choice Program;
NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1: That the Director of Public Utilities is hereby authorized to extend its contract with American Municipal Power to allow the Division of Power to participate in the green energy program EcoSmart Choice and to enroll its water and wastewater plants in the program from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018.
SECTION 2: The Director of Public Utilities is hereby authorized to charge any Division of Power customers that sign up for EcoSmart Choice Program as provided for in the pricing and payment provisions of the contract.
SECTION 3: This measure shall take effect and be in force from and continuing thereafter upon the earliest time allowed by law.