The State of New Jersey has been engaged in a process to establish
a competitive market place through deregulation and restructuring
the electric utility market and natural gas market. The establishment
of a government aggregator and an energy aggregation program to purchase
electric generation service and natural gas pursuant to N.J.S.A. 48:3-93.1
et seq. and N.J.A.C. 14:4-6.1 et seq. will increase competition for
the provision of electric power and natural gas to residential and
nonresidential users, thereby increasing the likelihood of lower electric
rates and natural gas rates for these users without causing any interruption
in service. Under the aggregation process the residential and nonresidential
ratepayers may likely receive a direct reduction in their electric
bills and gas bills.
The realization of energy costs savings is in the interests
of the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Borough
of Paramus. The Borough of Paramus hereby finds that it is in the
best interests of residential and nonresidential electric and gas
ratepayers for the Borough of Paramus to create the opportunity for
them to enter into an aggregation agreement in order to seek substantial
savings on electric and gas rates.
The Borough of Paramus publicly declares its intent to become
an aggregator of electric power and natural gas on behalf of its residential
and nonresidential users of electricity and natural gas pursuant to
the Government Energy Act of 2003, N.J.S.A. 48:3-91.3 to -98, and
implementing regulations.
The Borough of Paramus will utilize Jersey Energy Group's
Reverse Energy Auction Platform pursuant to the NJ E-PROCUREMENT Pilot
program (P.L. 2001, c. 30) under the New Jersey Department of Community
Affairs. The Reverse Energy auction will seek bids from licensed and
appropriate third party suppliers. If such winning bid is selected
and agreement executed, individual residential consumers would retain
the option not to participate and to choose any alternatives they
desire, while non-residential ratepayers would also have the right
to participate.
The Mayor and Clerk of the Borough of Paramus are hereby authorized
and directed to execute any documents necessary to carry out the purpose
of the Ordinance.
All prior ordinances that are inconsistent with this ordinance
are repealed. All ordinances are hereby amended to be consistent with
this ordinance and all ordinances, including this one, shall be construed
consistent with the express purpose of this ordinance.
This ordinance shall be construed consistent with the purpose
stated in Section 1 hereof. Any ambiguities in this ordinance shall
be construed in accordance with the purpose of this ordinance. If
any part of this ordinance is invalidated by a court of competent
jurisdiction, the remainder of this ordinance shall be saved to the
full extent possible. This ordinance repeals provisions of the Paramus
Code only where stated herein; otherwise this ordinance is amendatory
and supplementary to existing provision of the Paramus Code.
This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon approval and
publication of notice of adoption as provided by law.