The North Country ranks dead last in the terms of jobs created and retained through the state’s ReCharge NY program.

As of Dec. 1, 2015 the Power Authority has awarded ReCharge NY power to 741 businesses, to support 400,948 jobs and $33.2 billion in commitments for new capital investment, but most of the jobs and investment are not in the North Country.

However, the number of jobs created and retained through the program in the North Country is relatively small compared to all other areas of the state.

According to a report issued by the governor, the program has helped retain about 6,615 jobs and helped create about 119 in the North Country. That’s significantly less than in the Mohawk Valley, which ranks second to last in terms of jobs retained and created through the program.

In the Mohawk Valley 12,967 jobs were retained and 552 were created, the report says.

The big winners in terms of job creation were New York City with 189,612 jobs retained and 4,223 created. In second was Long Island with 56,023 jobs retained and 3,737 created.

The key participants in the North Country include Clarkson University of Potsdam, International Paper of Ticonderoga, Kraft Foods Group of Lowville, Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown and St. Lawrence University of Canton.

The program was signed into law five years ago by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and provides enterprises with competitively priced power that costs less than electricity generally available through their local utility.

A typical business can save approximately five to 25 percent on the NYPA allocation portion of their electric bill.

The Robert Moses-Robert H. Saunders Power Dam, located in St. Lawrence County can produce more than 900 MW of electricity.

RNY offers seven-year contracts for lower-cost power from a pool of 910 megawatts. Of the designated block of power, half (455 MW) is low-cost hydropower from the Power Authority’s Niagara and St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt projects.

In addition, the legislation provided for the inclusion of at least 350 MW for upstate businesses and institutions, 200 MW for business attraction and expansion, and up to 100 MW for not-for-profit organizations.

One megawatt is the equivalent of power used by 800 to 1,000 typical homes.