Trumbull residents in townships eligible for group electricity rate

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — Residents of Trumbull County living outside the cities and villages will get a letter in July asking whether they want to “opt out” of an electricity-aggregation program arranged by the Trumbull County commissioners.

As with the natural-gas aggregation plan approved in January, electricity aggregation was approved by voters outside Trumbull County’s cities and villages at the polls in November.

Commissioners earlier this week approved an agreement with Buckeye Energy Brokers of Twinsburg for the company to run the electricity-aggregation program.

Buckeye Energy Brokers is also running the natural-gas aggregation program.

The electricity-aggregation plan will offer an option for electricity customers outside the cities and villages with the potential to lower a homeowner’s costs, said Tom Bellish, president of Buckeye Energy Brokers.

Some Trumbull County cities have their own electricity-aggregation plans — such as Cortland and Girard — Bellish noted.

Electricity customers participating in the county aggregation will see a 10 percent discount in their electricity costs in this year starting with the September bill, a 6 percent discount in 2010, a 5 percent discount in 2011 and a 4 percent discount during the first three months of 2012, Bellish said.

The rate is 6.15 cents per kilowatt hour and is fixed for two years, Bellish said.

The notices in July will give a detailed explanation of a customer’s options, he added.

The electricity-aggregation rate won’t be available for customers who heat their home with electricity or for homeowners who participate in the Percentage of Income Plan, Bellish said.