For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
AGGREGATED DATA
Aggregated and anonymized information, including the number
of consumers by service class, the aggregated peak demand (kW) (for
electricity) by month for the past 12 months, by service class to
the extent possible, and the aggregated energy (kWh) for electricity
or volumetric consumption for gas by month for the past 12 months
by service class.
CCA ADMINISTRATOR
The individual/entity duly authorized by the City to put
out for bid the total amount of electricity and/or natural gas being
purchased by participating consumers.
CUSTOMER-SPECIFIC DATA
Customer-specific information, personal data and utility
data for all consumers in the municipality eligible to opt out of
the CCA program, including the customer of record's name, mailing
address, telephone number, account number, and primary language, if
available, and any customer-specific alternate billing name, address,
and phone number.
DATA SECURITY AGREEMENT
An agreement between the distribution utility and the City
that obligates each party to meet to protect the confidentiality of
customer-specific data.
DISTRIBUTION UTILITY
The owner or controller of the means of distribution of the
natural gas or electricity that is regulated by the PSC.
ELIGIBLE CONSUMERS
Consumers of electricity and/or natural gas within the municipal
boundaries of the City who receive service from the distribution utility
as of the effective date of this chapter, or new consumers who subsequently
become eligible to participate in the CCA program, except those consumers
who receive service from the distribution utility and have requested
not to have their account information shared by the distribution utility.
ESCO
An entity duly authorized to conduct business in the State
of New York as an energy services company.
PARTICIPATING CONSUMERS
Eligible consumers enrolled in the CCA program, either because
they are consumers who receive services from the distribution utility
as of the effective date of this chapter and have not opted out, or
are new consumers.
All eligible consumers within the City, including residential
and nonresidential, regardless of size, shall be eligible to participate
in the CCA program and shall be enrolled on an opt-out basis except
for consumers that: 1) are already taking service from an ESCO, 2)
have placed a freeze or block on their account, or 3) have already
elected to take service pursuant to a special rate and inclusion in
the CCA program will interfere with that rate choice.
Participating consumers shall be provided customer service,
including a toll-free telephone number available during normal business
hours (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday),
to resolve concerns, answer questions, and transact business with
respect to the service received from the supplier.
The City may request aggregated data and customer-specific data
from the distribution utility; provided, however, that the request
for customer-specific data is limited to only those eligible consumers
who did not opt out once the initial opt-out period has closed. The
municipality must enter into a data security agreement with the distribution
utility for the purpose of protecting customer data.
The City may collect, or cause to be collected, funds from customer
payments to pay for administrative costs associated with running the
CCA program.