BILL NUMBER:S8348

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing the
nodal metering initiative demonstration project by the Northern
Westchester Energy Action Consortium

PURPOSE:
Establishes the nodal metering initiative demonstration project

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Establishes the nodal metering initiative demonstration
project, to pick and select appropriate nodal points along the
transmission and distribution grids for the installation of smart
meters to accurately measure the electricity consumption within a
community of the Northern Westchester Energy Action Consortium, and
provides that the authority shall exercise oversight and is
authorized to disburse funds to carry out the purposes of this section.

Section 2: States the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:
The town of Bedford in Northern Westchester played a leading role in
establishing the State's first sustainable home energy loan program,
which was recently adopted as statewide legislation.
              

For years now, federal and state energy initiatives, however brilliant
in the lab, simply have not succeeded in reaching the kind of market
penetration rates that are now required to push the reset button on
our economy as the energy internet arrives.

There is strength in local numbers. In northern Westchester, Bedford
has joined with thirteen other communities to create exactly the kind
of grassroots expertise and initiatives for these policies and
programs that are needed.

Resolutions passed and signed by the elected officials in fourteen
municipalities pursuant to section 239,n of the general municipal law
established the Northern Westchester Energy Action Consortium,
representing over 220,000 residents living in over 50,000 homes in
Northern Westchester.

The Consortium's proposal for federal and state funding for a local
smart grid ("nodal metering") demonstration project will generate
potential energy savings for which the utilities will pay millions of
dollars to have access to.

Much like the state followed Northern Westchester's lead in the
sustainable borne energy loan program; there is hope that following
the nodal metering initiative project demonstration the state will

continue to export their models for adapting in many other regions
elsewhere.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
This bill would authorize New York State Energy Research and
Development Authority to use existing monies to fund the nodal
metering initiative demonstration project. Many energy reduction
measures have a thirty rate of return, meaning they pay for
themselves in utility savings within 3 years.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately