PRESS RELEASE - City of Washington, October 28, 2011
INFORMATION ON MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC "OPT-OUT" AGGREGATION FOR RESIDENTIAL AND SMALL COMMERCIAL RETAIL ACCOUNTS.
The City of Washington has enrolled with the Good Energy Central and Southern Illinois (CSI) Buying Group to provide electricity supply cost savings for its residents and small commercial retail businesses.
Good Energy has so far enrolled over 100,000 households in the Central Illinois region. The resulting buying power will help secure the lowest rate possible.
Good Energy is an energy consultant. They will NOT be sending any electricity offers in the mail directly to residents. Good Energy will only be mailing residents as part of an education campaign to explain how the municipal aggregation process works.
If you wish to participate in Washington's aggregation program, do not sign up with an alternative supplier now. Any accounts already enrolled with an alternative supplier are unable to participate in the City's program.
Given current market conditions, electricity supply cost savings are forecast to be approximately $125 - $150 per household per year.
Timeline of the Municipal Aggregation Process:
November - March, 2012: Education of residents and small commercial retail businesses on the municipal aggregation program.
March 20, 2012: Referendum.
March - April, 2012: Aggregation Plan of Operation and Governance published by the City of Washington. Two public hearings will be held.
May, 2012: The electric "load" of all residential and small commercial retail accounts are put out to competitive bid with Alternative Retail Electric Suppliers (ARES). Only then does the City of Washington make a decision about moving forward. Any executed electric contract will be with the winning supplier.
May - June, 2012: The "Opt-Out Period" commences. All residents and small commercial retail accounts will receive a direct mailing from the winning supplier explaining the savings offer while also giving them an opportunity to "Opt-Out" of the program.
June - July, 2012: All accounts that have not opted out are transitioned from Ameren to the winning supplier. Ameren sends out the first "consolidated" bill with the new supplier, which will also provide a second opportunity to "Opt-Out".
ALL RESIDENTS AND SMALL COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE ONE BILL. ALL DELIVERY AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE PAID TO AMEREN. RESIDENTS WILL RECEIVE EXACTLY THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE AND SUPPORT FROM AMEREN.
For further information call the "Good Energy CSI" Hotline: 309-245-4566 or visit the website at www.goodenergy.com/csi