Franklin to become part of natural gas co-op

FRANKLIN — The Franklin Borough Town Council voted to end the Borough’s contract with Metromedia Gas and become part of the Passaic County Cooperative for Natural Gas services.

The current contract is set to expire and the new contract with Passaic would commence in February 2015.

“The contract will begin at the end of the current contract.” Borough Administrator James Kilduff said.

While no official rates have yet been given by the co-operative, the current contract with Metromedia is set to see an increase in gas rates.

“To stay with Metromedia, it’s going up 8 cents per therm," Kilduff said. "You generally get better pricing with a co-op."

While some discussion regarding allowing Passaic to become a third-party electric supplier to the borough through an Energy Aggregation Program, no decisions have been as of yet.

The Aggregation Program is meant to provide Borough residents with favorable pricing for electric, however, residents do have the option to opt out of the program.

Further discussion and a public hearing still must be scheduled before an official vote can take place.