Canfield voters to consider gas, electric opt-out issues

CANFIELD — The township is asking residents to pass two similar ballot issues to pursue opt-out programs for natural gas and electric aggregation.

If the ballot issues are approved Nov. 3, the township would be able to enter into opt-out contracts for gas when the current program ends in November 2010 and for electric in February 2010, according to a news release from Canfield Township.

In an opt-out agreement, all eligible residents and commercial customers are automatically included in the program unless they call the provider and take themselves out.

The township has a tentative agreement with FirstEnergy Solutions for electric aggregation that would guarantee a savings of at least 6 percent for residential customers and 3 percent for commercial customers for the next nine years.

The program also provides a civic donation of $186,000 to the township, which would be paid in 2009 and could be used any way the township sees fit, according to the news release.