Politics & Government

Hearings Set for Electric Aggregation

Residents can ask questions about Plainfield's decision to join forces with 18 other towns to negotiate a new electric contract, which could net 10% to 15% in savings.

Plainfield's Management Services Director Traci Pleckham says she's been getting three or four calls a week about electrical aggregation since voters last month authorized the village to negotiate new electric rates.

Some want to know what happens next, others want to know when the savings will kick in, Pleckham said. A few want to know how to opt out and stay with ComEd, she said.

What's been decided so far is the village will join forces with the Will Electric Aggregation group, a consortium of 18 municipalities that will seek bids on behalf of 130,000 residential customers, Pleckham said. It's being overseen by the Will County Governmental League, of which Plainfield is a member.

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As that process begins, the village will hold two public hearings in which residents can learn what's happening and ask questions, Pleckham said. They're set for 7 p.m. April 23 and May 7 at , 24401 W. Lockport St. Written comments are also being accepted.

Pleckham said she anticipates the aggregation group will end up signing a one-year contract, with an anticipated savings of 10 percent to 15 percent for residents and small business owners. It's possible, she added, the savings might be even larger given the number of people for whom the group is negotiating.

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That said, Pleckham does not expect they'll ink a deal beyond one year because ComEd has indicated plans to reduce rates next year. That could give the group the ability to negotiate an even better deal in 2013, she said.

Each town gets one vote in deciding who the contract will go to, and the majority vote determines the winner, Pleckham said. In other words, even if Plainfield officials do not vote for the contract, it will go into effect in Plainfield if the majority of the consortium approves it, she said.

However, the final step remains with the resident or business owner. Each will receive a document explaining the contract and giving them the opportunity to opt out of the negotiated deal and remain with ComEd.

If someone has already negotiated their own electricity deal, they can switch to the village contract if they have an "opt out" clause in their arrangement, Pleckham said.

In other words, there's no real downside because residents ultimately decide if they want to go with the consortium electricity contract or not, she said. And regardless of who provides the electricity, ComEd will still handle billing and maintenance.

"The municipality doesn't get anything out this," Pleckham said. "And that's not the goal. Getting better rates for the residents is the goal."

Want more information on the electrical aggregation process? Here are some sources:


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