Electricity Aggregation Ballot Question both 'Simple and Complex'

On March 20, Elmhurst voters will have an opportunity to answer a about electricity aggregation that is "both simple and complex," Elmhurst League of Women Voters President Susan Rose said last month.

Electricity aggregation allows a municipality to bundle residential and small commercial users of electricity and go out on the open market and bid for the lowest-cost electricity. Power can be purchased from any of about two dozen Illinois Commerce Commission-approved suppliers.

The March 20 referendum states: "Shall the City of Elmhurst have the authority to arrange for the supply of electricity for its residential and small commercial retail customers who have not opted out of such a program?"

"The referendum is not asking whether the city should (pursue electricity aggregation) or not," Rose said at a candidate forum held last month.

If it doesn't pass, the city still can, and probably will, pursue aggregation based on information it obtains from a and in public hearings. While under no obligation to do so, if there are cheaper alternatives than having ComEd provide electricity, the city will likely aggregate it for the community. In any event, ComEd will still provide the infrastructure to deliver the electricity.

What the referendum is asking residents, is: "What process would you like to use to accept or not accept a new energy supplier for your home or business."

"The referendum is about the method," Rose said.

If it passes, residents will be automatically included in any aggregation program the city adopts, but they can choose to opt out. If the referendum doesn't pass, the city will have to come to each resident and opt them in to the program.

"The city will have to come to you and say, 'Do you wish to be in it?' " Rose said.

More than 150 other communities in Illinois have the same referendum on their ballots, and 20 have passed it already.

"Why would the city (pursue aggregation)? Because of the likelihood of cheaper electricity. That's the bottom line," Rose said.

There is never any guarantee, but Rose said in Oak Park, which is the first community in Illinois to adopt electricity aggregation, residents' rates are about 2 cents lower per kilowatt hour than what is charged by ComEd. And, the city has been able to secure electricity from an "all green" provider, Integrys Energy Services.

Rose said customers will see no difference in their service from what they have now.

"The electricity is exactly the same," she said. "There will be no difference in the service that is received. You will continue to receive a bill from ComEd, can still pay it online, opt for a 12-month budget plan, none of that will change."

Some residents have said they were concerned that ComEd would put them on the low-priority list in the event of an outage if their electricity was coming from another company.

"If my power goes out … are they not going to care?" she said. "By law, ComEd will continue to be responsible to ensure that electricity flows through the distribution network. They remain responsible by law for responding to outages and will continue to do so (regardless of) who provides the electricity."

Rose urged residents to visit the Illinois Commerce Commission website, The Elmhurst Cool Cities website and the Illinois Municipal Aggregation of Electric (IMAE) website for more information.

The League of Women Voters of Elmhurst also is hosting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, at .