Elyria Township voters pass Electrical Aggregation Program
On May 4th Elyria Township Electrical Aggregation Program passed, 546 yes votes, 124 no votes.
Watch this website, your mailbox and local newspaper for the application of the program in the township.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What is electric aggregation?
A: The theory behind public aggregation is simple: By using bulk purchasing power, greater savings can be passed on to individual consumers. By joining together, consumers gain the advantage of allowing the Township to go out and find a better price for Township residents’ electricity than they can get from their utility on their own.
Q: What will this cost me if I vote for this and it passes?
A: It will cost you nothing and could provide you with substantial savings on the generation part of your electricity bill in the future.
Q: What will the Township do to arrange these savings?
A: If the residents of Elyria Township decide that they want our Township to aggregate their electricity, the Trustees will find a program that provides the best savings for our residents and contract on your behalf.
Q: Why is the Township doing this now?
A: These programs have been available since 2000. When the Ohio legislature decided to allow communities to provide opt-out programs, there was a question about whether they would be good for residents. There is no longer a question that these programs work and are good for residential and small businesses in Northeast Ohio. Since 2001, over a hundred million dollars have been saved by electric customers in governmental aggregation communities in Northeast Ohio. The residents of Elyria Township should have the opportunity to receive savings as well from electric aggregation.
Q: What does it mean to “Opt-out”?
A: If the voters in Elyria Township approve Issue 23 and the Township Trustees find an electricity supplier that can save our residents and small businesses money, you will be in our program unless you choose to Opt-Out. You will be sent an opt-out notice at least every three years and be able to opt-out then without charge. If you want to take advantage of the savings you don’t have to do anything. Only those residents who don’t want to be in the program need to send back an opt-out notice. Those people, however, will not be receiving the savings that the Township has negotiated for you.
Q: Why isn’t this being done on an “Opt-In” basis instead?
A: It has been proven in Ohio and other states that voluntary “Opt-In” programs don’t work. The Township officials need to be able to offer the known electric load of a majority of the Township residents in a program in order to attract good pricing from an electric supplier. By joining together we can get you the savings that you deserve.
Q: But what if I just don’t want to join the aggregation?
A: You are free to do that, but you won’t get the savings that your fellow residents will be receiving. All you have to do is opt-out of the program and you will receive your supply from the utility as you have in the past.
Q: If I stay in the aggregation, who will I get my bill from?
A: Nothing will change regarding the bills you receive from your electric company. Ohio Edison will still deliver the electricity to you on their lines and they will continue to bill you for it. The only difference will be that your electric bill will show that the supply of electricity is coming from the new supplier under the Township’s aggregation program and it will be priced lower than what the utility is then offering for electric generation service.
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