Community Energy Aggregation Program – FAQ’s

  1. What Is a community energy aggregation (CEA) program?  A program that allows municipalities to pool the energy usage of all residents within the municipality in an effort to find a lower rate than JCP&L charges for the electric supply portion of residents’ bills. This program offers a flat rate and is designed to offer a reduced rate without the risk of rate increases, unlike other variable Third-Party Supply (TPS) contracts.  Currently over 60 towns participate in CEA programs in New Jersey. 
  2. Will I still be a customer of JCP&L?  Yes.  JCP&L will continue to deliver your electricity and you will be billed at the regulated delivery rate.  JCP&L will continue to provide all emergency and safety services, as well as meter reading, billing, and service restoration.  You will continue to receive only one bill each month from JCP&L, and you will continue sending your payments only to JCP&L.
  3. How much can I expect to save from my JCP&L bill?  Most municipalities believe they save between two and ten percent from their current electric supply prices.  As utility rates vary depending on the season and regulated rate changes, there are no guarantees for savings.
  4. Are there other advantages to being in a CEA?  Besides a lower energy price, many CEA’s negotiate forms of higher renewable energy content in the energy supply as an offered upgrade or higher renewables in the base rate supply. This helps to reduce a community’s carbon footprint.
  5. How do I participate in the program?  As a residential electric customer who has not already chosen a Third-Party Supplier (TPS) for your electric supply, you will be automatically enrolled in this program and receive the anticipated energy savings over the term of the program unless you indicate your desire NOT to participate by calling the program’s customer care team, returning a response card, through the program’s web page.  Residents who are under their own contract with a TPS at the time a CEA program starts are not included in the program.  They are welcome to opt-in to the CEA program and are encouraged to check with their TPS regarding any early termination provisions before doing so. 
  6. Is there a fee to be a part of this program or penalty to leave after it starts?   No. There are no fees or penalties for leaving or joining the program, even after it starts.
  7. Will residents be penalized if they choose not to participate in this program? No.  If a resident does not want to be a part of the CEA program, they can stay with their utility’s default energy providers or choose their own Third-Party Supplier (TPS).   There will never be a fee or penalty associated with participation or non-participation in the program.
  8. If residents have solar panels, can they be a part of this program?  At this time, suppliers are not able to process the net metering portion of solar credits, and we recommend that residents with solar panels opt-out of the program to avoid losing their credits.
  9. Can a residents’ information be sold to advertisers or energy companies?  No. A resident’s information, including their account number, is confidential and can only be used to set up the municipality’s CEA program.
  10.  Will the Budget Bill or Equal Payment Plan to offered?  Yes, the CEA program offers budget billing.  You may experience a “true-up” prior to enrollment.  
  11. Are the people knocking on my door asking about my electric bill a part of this program?   No. No one associated with this program will be calling or knocking on your door.  All official information is sent via USPS and posted on the program’s web page.
  12. Is the price a “teaser” price that will go up after I am part of the program?  No.  The program rate is non-variable and will remain the same from month to month for the length of the negotiated contract term.
  13. What happens after the initial term expires?  A new reduced rate and term may be offered of which you will be notified. If no savings can be offered, you will automatically be returned to the default service rate through JCP&L.
  14. Who supervises the Community Energy Aggregation (CEA) program? The NJ Board of Utilities has enforcement authority over CEA programs in NJ.