§ 22-6. Provisions for implementing CCA program.

A. 

Part A: implementation plan.

(1) 

The Town, with support from its CCA Administrator, will create and follow a CCA implementation plan which shall outline the details of how the CCA program will be created and operated, including how public outreach and education will occur, what rules will apply to the program, how the procurement process will implemented, how energy contracts will be selected, and how responsibilities will be divided amongst the CCA Administrator, municipality, and eligible customers.

(2) 

In accordance with the NYSPSC order authorizing CCAs, the CCA implementation plan will be reviewed and approved by the Public Service Commission. Such review may involve NYSPSC approval of a generic CCA implementation plan, with the understanding that community-specific appendices would be submitted later and would outline appropriately tailored local education and outreach efforts.

(3) 

Where a generic CCA implementation plan will be used, the Town and the CCA Administrator will make community-specific revisions to the plan's appendices to ensure the plan is properly tailored to the needs of the Town's residents. Therefore, prior to or in conjunction with the enactment of this chapter, and thereafter from time to time, the Town, with support from the CCA Administrator, will create and update a CCA program opt-out letter, as well as an education and outreach plan, as provided in the implementation plan appendix for this community.

(4) 

The Town's opt-out letter and education and outreach plan shall conform to those requirements for public outreach, education, and opt-out procedures set forth in the NYSPSC order authorizing CCAs, and in any other applicable laws or regulations, and shall ensure that the Town and its CCA Administrator engage in a robust effort to educate and inform the community about the CCA program and their options for participating or opting out.

(5) 

Opt-out letters will be provided to all automatically eligible customers no less than 30 days prior to the time at which those customers would be automatically enrolled in the CCA program. The letters will be printed on Town letterhead, in official Town envelopes. The logo of the CCA Administrator and selected ESCO may also be included on these letters, so long as it is clear that the letter is official correspondence from the Town.

B. 

Part B: public outreach and education.

(1) 

The Town, together with its CCA Administrator, will provide public notices, presentations, information sheets, and other forms of outreach, as outlined in the appendix of the implementation plan, to ensure residents are informed about the CCA program and their options for participating or opting out.

(2) 

Once the CCA program is operating, the Town and its CCA Administrator will continue to engage in public outreach to keep CCA customers informed about any changes to the CCA program; opportunities for new products or services available through the CCA program, such as renewable energy buying options; important terms and durations of ESAs; information about the selected ESCOs; and any other matters related to the CCA program.

C. 

Part C: customers moving into or out of the community after CCA adoption. Residents and possible eligible small commercial customers who establish utility accounts in this community after the effective date of this chapter shall be afforded the opportunity to join the CCA program within a reasonable time after their utility account is established, in accordance with contractual agreements between the CCA Administrator and any ESCO(s) providing service to the program.

D. 

Part D: customer data protection. The Town, or its CCA Administrator, will create and follow a customer data protection plan which ensures that any confidential or sensitive personal customer information provided by the utility to the Town, its CCA Administrator, and/or the selected ESCO(s), will be given all privacy protections required by law and regulation, and protected from unauthorized release or use to the greatest extent possible. This customer data protection plan will ensure that the CCA program and any selected ESCO(s) handle all confidential or sensitive customer data in keeping those customer data protections already afforded by the utility prior to the enactment of this chapter. This plan will also ensure that CCA customer data, such as contact information, is not used for inappropriate purposes, such as solicitation of business unrelated to the CCA program, its goals and objectives.