Aggregation program saves Crest Hill users $200 a year
By Erin Biesen Correspondent March 6, 2013 9:38AM
Updated: April 9, 2013 11:11AM
Crest Hill was ahead of the trend when it came to electrical aggregation.
The city was one of the first 19 communities in Illinois that went with electrical aggregation in order for residents to save money. There are 469 communities in Illinois that chose to move forward with electrical aggregation programs.
Dave Hoover of NIMEC attended the recent Crest Hill City Council meeting to report on the savings experienced by those who joined the program.
He said the average annual savings per account is $200 per year. There are 4,600 accounts in Crest Hill participating.
Suppliers offer a franchise fee, a small amount so municipalities can recoup their costs, and the city decided against that option.
“Just to be clear, it has been your intention over the last 15 months to not accept that contribution. In other words, you all wanted to pass on the maximum savings possible to the residents,” Hoover said.
The program is entering a renewal period. NIMEC will get seven different supplier bids and then present those bids to the council. The council will be able to select the supplier and the term.
Once selected, the supplier will contact residents on behalf of the municipality informing them of the terms of the renewal period.
“The transition will take place seamlessly,” Hoover said.
“Since the program’s inception until present the community at large has saved $1.5 million. That’s your own little stimulus program that you all are responsible for,” he said.
