LOW-COST HYDROPOWER SET FREE DURING THE SHUTDOWN OF ALCOA EAST WILL BE USED TO LOWER THE ELECTRIC BILLS OF OTHER BUSINESSES. NEW YORK POWER AUTHORITY TRUSTEES MEETING IN MASSENA VOTED UNANIMOUSLY THIS AFTERNOON TO PUT 10 MILLION DOLLARS INTO A SO-CALLED ‘NORTH COUNTRY ELECTRIC STIMULUS’ PROGRAM.  INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS OF NATIONAL GRID AND NEW YORK STATE ELECTRIC AND GAS IN ST.LAWRENCE, FRANKLIN, AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES WILL SEE A REDUCTION IN ELECTRICITY COSTS BEGINNING IN SEPTEMBER.  POWER AUTHORITY PRESIDENT AND C-E-O RICHARD KESSEL SAYS THE SAVINGS WILL BE 10 TO 15 PERCENT. MASSENA-BASED POWER AUTHORITY TRUSTEE EUGENE NICANDRI MADE THE MOTION:  TRUSTEES AND KESSEL NOTED THE POWER STIMULUS IS TEMPORARY, LASTING AS LONG AS ALCOA EAST IS IDLE.  KESSEL SAID IT WAS HIS UNDERSTANDING THE TEMPORARY SHUTDOWN STARTED TODAY.  A DEAL BETWEEN ALCOA THE POWER AUTHORITY ANNOUNCED AT THE END OF MARCH RESULTED IN ABOUT 120 LAYOFFS WHILE PRESERVING THE REST OF MASSENA OPERATIONS.  ALCOA SAID THE SHUTDOWN WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE DECLINE IN WORLDWODE ALUMINUM PRICES THAT BEGAN LAST YEAR.