Poland voters to decide on opt-out plans

staff report

POLAND — Village officials have placed two similar ballot issues on the November ballot, seeking voter approval to pursue an opt-out natural- gas aggregation program and opt-out electric aggregation.

The ballot initiatives, if approved, would give village council the authority to pursue natural-gas and electric opt-out programs.

Gas flow under the new program would begin when the current endorsement program with IGS Energy ends in November 2010. Electricity flow under the opt-out program could begin as early as February.

The village has a tentative agreement for an electric program with FirstEnergy Solutions as the supplier. The agreement is contingent upon voters’ approving the ballot initiative. If passed, the offer would provide guaranteed savings of at least 6 percent for residential customers and 3 percent for commercial customers for the next nine years.

The offer also provides a one-time civic donation to the village’s general fund.

With opt-out aggregation programs, all eligible residential and small commercial customers are included in the program unless they decide to opt-out. The participation rate for opt-out programs tends to be very high, and because of this, suppliers are able to pass on lower rates.

The ballot initiatives and these programs are being conducted without using taxpayer money. The ballots must pass before any further steps can be pursued. If approved, residents will learn more details about the program as the process moves forward.

Participation in the programs is voluntary. The village, like other communities, is attempting to leverage the bargaining power of a large buying group to obtain favorable natural-gas and electric supply rates.

The local utilities, Dominion East Ohio and Ohio Edison, will continue to deliver residents’ natural-gas and electric service, maintain their distribution systems, read meters and issue bills.