Cooperstown News Bureau

COOPERSTOWN - School districts and municipalities looking for ways to reduce their electric bills have a couple of options.

They can join the Municipal Electric & Gas Alliance through Otsego County, or purchase power from Advantage Energy through the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce Inc.

In recent months, both buying plans have saved their customers money, officials said.

"Otsego County saved about $5,000 in the last year through MEGA, and we expect to save about $10,000 in the next year," said Diane Carlton, the county's director of planning.

About a year ago, the county joined the cooperative, which includes Broome, Tompkins, Cortland and Tioga counties. Because Otsego County is now a member, schools districts and municipalities within the county can "piggyback" on the county's membership to save money, she said.

"The larger the buying group, the more power it has in the marketplace," said Carlton. MEGA has been growing and may continue to do so by adding municipalities and school districts.

Although individuals cannot join MEGA, they can share in some savings when their municipalities or school districts join, she said.

Otsego County Rep. Ronald Feldstein of Otego, who recently was elected treasurer of MEGA, said the group represents a good way to save some money on electric bills.

The city of Oneonta is likely to save even more than the county through the MEGA plan next year, he said.

Also available in the county is a plan to purchase power from Advantage Energy, according to Rob Robinson, president and chief executive office of the Otsego County Chamber.

The plan is available to chamber members and employees of chamber members, he said.

"We've been able to save residential customers from 4-to-8 percent on their bills," Robinson said.

Among larger entities that have opted for the chamber's plan are A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta, the village of Gilbertsville, the Cooperstown Central School District, Catholic Charities and the Oneonta City School District, Robinson said.

Robinson said Advantage Energy supplies power for the MEGA buying group, and the chamber is able to get this power at a discount.

Among the chamber members that have made the plan available to employees is the New York Central Mutual Insurance Co. of Edmeston, he said.

"This is a way that people can save money on their own residential bills," he said.

Carlton said that all school districts and municipalities in the county should consider signing up "for one plan or the other. It doesn't make sense not to save money on utility bills," she said.

Gordon Boyd, a consultant who assists the buying group, said counties are saving about 3 percent on their bills through MEGA, and large businesses are saving somewhat more than that.