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Electric Department

To report a hazardous situation or a power outage:

Your safety is important to us. Please treat all downed lines as live and dangerous. If you have a downed power line or another hazardous situation, call 766-5800 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Electric and Water Account General Information - Click Here

Online Bill Pay        Residents can pay or inquire on electric or water bills.

The Electric Department provides the residents of Rockville Centre with low-cost electric power. Our utility is able to meet peak load demands without resorting to brownouts due to the expanded capacity of the generating plant and the additional hydropower available from New York State due to the expanded capacity of the interconnecting substation.

Our electric utility continually plans for future demands. Negotiations with Con Edison ensures a reliable path for the delivery of inexpensive power, and a similar agreement with LIPA expands our potential for importing even more electricity. Additional supplies are currently being solicited through the Village's participation in the New York Municipal Power Agency, a joint action agency formed for the purpose of purchasing low cost power.  The average Rockville Centre Electric Bill is 50% less than consumers whose power is supplied by LIPA.  

The Electric department was successful in 1996 in gaining approval from New York State for the safe operations of it newest engine and for the levels of emission from the the plant on Maple Avenue. To date, the utility has met all of the requirements of the federal clean air act that is monitored by the State's Department of Environmental Conservation.

The Utility also joined with other municipal electric systems in New York in a joint action agency that is seeking additional sources of low-cost hydro-power to supplement the allocation the Village currently receives from the New York State Power Authority.
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One of our engines

Saving energy and money at work and at home

When thinking about conservation, there are two basic questions to answer. First, what technological changes can be made at your home or organization? Second, what behavioral changes can be made? Using advances in technology typically get a bigger energy savings, so think about changing out incandescent lights for fluorescent ones or buying a more efficient air conditioning unit.

But don't discount the multitude of small, easy energy-saving actions that every resident can take. These add up for big savings.

A list of tips to help you save energy, both at work and at home:

Lighting Tips:

  •  Replace incandescent bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs).
    CFLs use 75% less energy and last 8 to 10 times longer than incandescent lights making them worth the extra up-front cost. BUT, use CFLs appropriately - place them in fixtures that remain on for at least 3 hours daily. Special CFLs are required to operate with dimmers or 3-way switches.
  • Turn off lights!
    • Incandescent lights should always be turned off when not in use. Fluorescent lights work optimally when they are not turned off repeatedly, so only turn off when you plan to be away for 30 minutes or more.
    • When day lighting is adequate.
    • Leave minimal lighting on during non-business hours or when you are away from your home as necessary for safety; otherwise, shut off all lighting.
  • Use the right amount of light:
    • Consider three-way lamps and dimming switches. This will make it easier to keep lighting levels low when brighter lights are not necessary.
    • Use one large wattage lamp rather than two small ones. Example: use one 100 watt rather than two 60 watts light bulbs.
    • Use task lighting (table and desktop lamps) instead of room lighting.
  • Keep light fixtures, shades and bulbs clean!

Heating Tips:

  • Turn down the thermostat. Wear warm clothing and set the thermostat to 68 degrees or lower during the day and evening, health permitting.
  • Put extra blankets on the bed.
  • Roll up towels and put them at the bottom of doors to stop drafts.
  • On sunny days, keep the shades, blinds and drapes open. At night, close curtains, draperies and blinds to keep the heat in.
  • Close closet doors and doors to unused rooms.
  • Use reversible ceiling fans to push warm air downwards and keep rooms warmer.
  • Make sure your home is properly insulated and seal cracks with caulking.
  • Consider installing ENERGY STAR® windows.
  • Switch off heating when you are out of the house.
  • Keep heating registers and air vents clear of obstacles and make sure you clean or replace furnace filters regularly.
  • Keep outside heating units free from leaves or debris that may clog vents.
  • Choose heaters with thermostat controls and programmable timers.
  • Cover wall-mounted air conditioners with plastic film or an airtight cover.
  • Close the fireplace damper after the fire is out.
  • Do not use fireplaces while your central heating system in on.

Air Conditioning Tips:

  • When you are away from home or work set the thermostat to 85 degrees.When home, set to 76-78 degrees, health permitting.
  • Turn off central air conditioning 30 minutes before you plan to leave your home or office. The building will maintain a cool temperature for that time.
  • Consider using ceiling or portable fans to circulate and cool the air.
  • Choose air conditioning units with thermostat controls and programmable timers.
  • Open windows and shades during the evening when it's cooler. Use blinds, shades, and awnings to keep the heat out.
  • Turn off lights, TVs and computers when they are not being used. They make air conditioning work harder!
  • Do not place lamps or TV sets near your air conditioning thermostat.
  • Close off unoccupied rooms and shut their air conditioning vents; turn off room air conditioners in unoccupied rooms.
  • Clean or replace air conditioner filters regularly.
  • Keep outside air conditioning units free from leaves that may clog vents.
  • Insulate the attic, outside walls, floors, and ducts. Seal cracks with caulking and weather strip around windows and doors.
  • Consider installing a solar powered fan in the attic for adequate ventilation.
  • Consider using an ENERGY STAR® air conditioning unit.

Cooking Tips:

  • Use microwaves to defrost, cook, and re-heat food instead of an oven.
  • Don't block microwave vents.
  • Turn off coffee machines when not in use and use small appliances for small tasks, such as a toaster instead of an oven.
  • Make sure the seals in the oven fit properly.
  • Keep lids on pots when cooking. While baking, do not open the oven; consider using the light instead.
  • Keep microwaves and ovens clean and well maintained to work most efficiently.

Dishwashing Tips:

  • Only run dishwashers when they are full and use the economy cycle for everyday washing.
  • Instead of using the drying cycle, stop the dishwasher, open the door and let dishes dry naturally. It takes more energy to dry dishes than to wash them.
  • Use cold water to rinse dishes before loading them into the dishwasher.
  • Wash dishes in the sink where possible.

Laundry Tips:

  • Only run the clothes washer and dryer when fully loaded.
  • When possible, use cold water to wash clothes.
  • Clean the clothes dryer filter after each load.
  • Spin clothes thoroughly before drying.
  • Do not over-dry clothes; use minimum amount of time necessary to dry them.
  • Dry lighter items together and heavy items together.
  • Consider using ENERGY STAR® washing machines.

General Suggestions:

  • Do laundry & dishes during off-peak energy hours. Summer peak energy hours are noon to 6:00 p.m.
  • Use trees and landscaping for shading purposes.
  • ENERGY STAR® is the label given by federal government to products that exceed energy efficiency standards. To find out more about ENERGY STAR®, visit http://www.energystar.gov/ or call 1-888-782-7937.
  • Conservation works! Your efforts will save you money and will help Rockville Centre get through an energy crisis.

Useful Telephone Numbers:

  • Electric Emergency (24 hour): 766-5800.
  • Electric Department: 516-678-9357.