MEGA Partners with the New York State Association of Counties

April 11th, 2008

The New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) and the Municipal Electric & Gas Alliance (MEGA) this week announced a new partnership designed to help counties save money on energy costs, one of the fastest growing costs in a county budget.

"NYSAC is dedicated to serving our member county officials in the interest of better, more efficient, modern and cost-effective government. Our partnership with MEGA is an extension of these efforts," said Stephen Acquario, NYSAC Executive Director. "Innovative programs like MEGA provide an avenue for reducing the costs of necessary goods through cooperative efforts."

MEGA serves as an aggregator whose primary purpose is achieving the best terms while securing the lowest and most stable rates for electricity and gas commodities for its members. For the two year period from April 2005 to April 2007, MEGA helped its members save over $3.3 million on electricity alone for a total of $7.86 million since the program's inception in 1999.

The Alliance was first formed in 1998 as an energy partnership between Tompkins and Tioga Counties. Two years later, Broome, Cortland, Schuyler and Otsego counties joined MEGA, which was reorganized as a non-profit, community-based local development corporation in 2001.

"Currently we serve 12 counties and over 100 municipalities. With this partnership and the addition of more counties, we will increase our buying power and help to lower energy costs for all participating municipalities," said MEGA Executive Director Barbara Blanchard. The partnership has resulted in the immediate interest of 9 other counties, which are currently in the process of enrolling in the program, according to Blanchard.

The New York State Association of Counties is a bipartisan municipal association serving all 62 counties of New York State including the City of New York. Organized in 1925, NYSAC's mission is to represent, educate and advocate for Member Counties and the thousands of elected and appointed county officials who serve the public.