[Adopted 5-10-2004 by Res. No. 428-2004]
A.
It is the desire of the County Executive and the Legislature to establish
an Energy Advisory Group (EAG) to react to the extreme volatility
of the natural gas and electric energy markets.
B.
In order to receive the best prices, the County must make purchasing
decisions within a matter of days or even hours of receiving bids
and some energy purchasing contracts provide the opportunity to lock
in a lower rate during the term of the contract, but the contract
requires the County to make a commitment on very short notice.
C.
The County Executive's Office indicated that the time frames built
into the County's purchasing rules, procedures and approval mechanisms
make it difficult to obtain the lowest prices and the best terms in
today's energy markets.
D.
The EAG would consist of the Albany County Commissioner of the Department
of Management and Budget, the Albany County Purchasing Agent and the
Superintendent of Operations of the Albany County Sewer District.
E.
The function of the EAG will be to develop and review energy-related
bids, make recommendations to the Legislature to approve the lowest
bid and act as the County's agent to take advantage of mid-term contract
decreases in energy costs on behalf of the County.
F.
The EAG will report to the Public Works Committee on a quarterly
basis, or at the request of the Legislature, on what action the EAG
has taken, what pricing it has been able to lock in and any other
matters that the Legislature believes to be pertinent.
The County Executive is authorized to establish an Albany County
Energy Advisory Group consisting of the Commissioner of the Department
of Management and Budget, the Purchasing Agent and the Superintendent
of Operations of the Sewer District to act as the County's agent to
obtain the lowest prices and the best terms pertaining to the purchase
of natural gas and electric energy on behalf of the County.
