The EcoSmart Choice program provides customers an option to have the electricity they use certified as being renewable.
The best way to ensure the power you use is renewable is to have it certified through renewable energy certificates (RECs). The minimal extra money you pay through this program is used to purchase RECs to cover your electricity usage. You have the option to do this for 50% of your power usage or for 100% of your power usage. Besides certifying your electricity came from a renewable generating source, you are helping to promote the construction and operation of renewable energy generating facilities. For more program details, see the program web page at the following link: EcoSmart Choice program.
The Cuyahoga Falls Electric System (CFES) offers electric customers an exciting opportunity to enroll in EcoSmart Choice, a “green pricing” program provided through American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP). Because the City of Cuyahoga Falls is a member of AMP and is participating in the EcoSmart Choice program, CFES customers can help reduce their carbon footprint and provide for a cleaner, healthier and safer energy supply by supporting this renewable energy program.
EcoSmart Choice enables participating AMP member communities to extend the benefits of renewable generation to their customers, regardless of their power supply mix. “Green pricing” programs, such as this, rely on the use of renewable energy certificates (RECs) to offset customers’ electricity usage. Since one REC represents one MWh (megawatt hour) of renewable electricity generation, the generating company can sell one REC for each MWh of renewable electricity they generate. As electricity put onto the grid cannot physically be tracked to a final destination, the REC is the industry’s method of determining who “received” the renewable energy. EcoSmart Choice offers cleaner energy for little additional cost and is open to residential, commercial and industrial customers of the CFES. There is no minimum required term for enrollment.
100% RENEWABLE ENERGY
EcoSmart Choice is a 100% renewable energy product available only to customers of participating AMP member communities such as Cuyahoga Falls. Renewable energy certificates (RECs) from wind, hydroelectric, or landfill gas projects will be purchased and retired to support the EcoSmart Choice program.
BENEFITS
By participating in the EcoSmart Choice program, customers help stimulate the demand for new renewable energy generating facilities. An average electric customer participating in the program can offset 8,500 pounds of CO2 emissions each year – the equivalent of not driving your car 10,000 miles!
PRICING
All customers of the Cuyahoga Falls Electric System will have a choice of participating at rates equal to either 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% of their electric usage for the minimal cost of $0.004 per kWh (effective 1/1/2022). For example, if a customer uses 750 kWh in a given month and chooses to participate at the 100% level, the EcoSmart Choice program will purchase an equal number of RECs to match that monthly usage at a cost of $3.00 (750 kWh*$0.004/kWh) to the customer which is then added to their electric bill for that month. If the following month a customer uses 1000 kWh, the added charge will be $4.00 (1000 kWh*$0.004/kWh).
Customers may enroll in the EcoSmart Choice “green pricing” program by calling the City of Cuyahoga Falls Utility Billing Office at (330) 971-8250. Information on the program can also be found on the EcoSmart Choice website.