William J. Kemble is reporting for the Daily Freeman the Saugerties Village Board has agreed to give village residents information about the changes that would result from a community-choice electricity-buying program. The board's action "provides the opportunity for the information to get out to our residents to look into this program,” Mayor Bill Murphy said. “It doesn’t commit us to joining it. ... We have plenty of time before we have to decide to join it.” In December, Hudson Valley Energy through its representative, Jeff Domanski, asked the village to participate in the program, run by Joule Assets Inc., that serves as administrator of the community-choice program. If Saugerties opts into the program, the company chosen would be designated as the default electricity provider for village customers, instead of Central Hudson Gas & Electric. Residents could, however, opt to stay with Central Hudson or choose a different provider. Under the program, village electricity customers would be grouped with other municipalities with similar interests in choosing a provider, based on whether the provider's energy is generated by renewable sources and other factors. The program is also being considered by town of Saugerties officials, as well. Officials estimate there are about 12,000 electricity customers in the town and village of Saugerties. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.