POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County is trying to ease municipal energy costs by seeking to buy electricity cooperatively and try and share some savings.

County officials briefed local municipal officials Tuesday at Duchess Community College before it seeks a request for proposal for the delivery of electricity beginning January 1st.

“This is the county’s program to cooperative purchase with town o and municipalities in Dutchess County” said Nick Johnson, assistant director of central services for Dutchess County.

The county will put bids out in November that will look for prices that beat Central Hudson from other electrical service providers. The county can buy electricity from other companies and run that power across line maintained by Central Hudson.

“If the process works and we get good pricing, the savings will be available to everybody,” said Johnson.

Interested municipalities have until October 15 to contact the county with their intent to participate before the RFP is issued November 1. The proposed a similar plan in 2005, when gas prices surged near $4 –gallon, but the bids came back too high for costs saving.

Dave Sherman, supervisor Town of Northeast, wants to reduce the electrical costs of his municipality near the Connecticut and Massachusetts borders.

“We have been seeing the costs go up during the summer period “he said. “We’re interested to see what we can do in any other parts of our budget.”