Tabernacle residents may see a dip in their electricity bill if the township opts to enroll in the Burlington County Energy Aggregation Program.
At last week’s meeting, Tabernacle Township Committee talked about potentially joining the county’s program in the near future.
“We are not currently a member,” township administrator Doug Cramer said. “We are considering joining.”
The Burlington County Energy Aggregation Program was announced last May. It is a cooperative between the county and local electricity providers where the county will negotiate a “bulk purchase” of energy supply at a lower price than residents currently pay. County freeholders have partnered with the Burlington County Bridge Commission as part of this program.
“This (plan) will make electricity less expensive for each individual and business in Burlington County,” Freeholder Bruce Garganio said during the plan’s rollout last year.
Cramer said participation in the program means residents would purchase their electricity from a cooperative rather than from the utility company itself. Tabernacle’s electricity provider is Atlantic City Electric.
“You’d be buying your energy as a cooperative of a larger group,” Cramer said.
Burlington County municipalities can choose whether to join the program.
If Tabernacle does enroll, the county estimates its residents would see a 5 percent decrease in electricity rates, Cramer said.
The township has been discussing the pros and cons of joining the program since last year. Cramer said township officials have talked about a couple of issues the program could bring.
“One of the negatives that has been brought up in previous discussions is, as a residential customer, you have to opt out not to be included,” Cramer said.
Once an aggregate rate is received, residents would be enrolled with Atlantic City Electric unless they choose to opt out. Residents who opt out can then choose to receive Atlantic City Electric’s standard rate or go with a third-party provider. Cramer said this would only affect a small group of residents who are enrolled with a third-party company.
The township committee did not make a final decision on whether to join the program and will continue to have discussions in the future.
Township purchases pumper truck
Township committee is also moving forward with the purchase of a pumper truck that residents voted in favor of more than a year ago.
Township committee adopted a bond ordinance for the new truck during the action portion of last week’s meeting.
Voters in Tabernacle had voted in favor of purchasing the vehicle in October 2013, but the vehicle was never purchased due to the fluid situation of the former Tabernacle Fire District №1. The district was officially dissolved last fall, with the township taking over fire services.
“The committee had made a commitment to purchase (the truck),” Cramer said.
The total cost of the truck is $700,000. The township will make a down payment of $108,000, with the remaining $592,000 to be paid through the issuance of bonds.
The committee also passed a resolution for Tabernacle Fire Company №1 to participate in the state’s Firefighter Certification Program.
