Energy Aggregation

Aggregation is when a group of customers in a community (households and small businesses) join together to form a single, larger customer that buys energy for its members. A large buying group may be able to get a better price and/or contract terms for the group members than you can get on your own.

In order for a community to create an aggregation program, a majority of the residents have to pass a ballot issue authorizing the community leaders to move forward with the aggregation process. After the ballot issue passes, the community leaders then develop a Plan of Operation. Public meetings (2) are held to gather public input and then community leaders approve the plan which is submitted to the PUCO for certification. After certification, officials then negotiate rates and choose a supplier.

Prior to enrollment, all eligible residents are mailed notices detailing the Program and offered the right to remain in the Program or to opt-out and not participate. Note: if you do not respond you will automatically be enrolled. Normally consumers are given a certain time frame to notify the supplier of their intent not to join. You may enroll or opt-out of the program at any time with no termination fee. This is a benefit provided by Energy Alliances, Inc. in conjunction with our suppliers and may not apply to aggregation programs managed by others.

The only difference you will notice is in your rate. Your local utility continues to deliver energy and services to your home or business. Electricity and natural gas flow the same as they always do and you will see the same level of service for maintenance and repairs. And no you will not be placed on the bottom of the list, remember you are still a customer of your utility company.

Every resident will receive an opt-out notice and it will provide them a certain number of days to opt-out of the program. The notice will provide the rates and other terms and conditions of the program. If you do nothing, you will automatically receive the new rate. A resident may choose to opt-out, or not participate, by either returning an enclosed opt-out card or by calling a toll-free telephone number. The PUCO has established a permanent "do not aggregate" list for electric consumers. Information may be found online. As a courtesy to residents, our suppliers also maintain their own "mail exclude" or "do-not-aggregate" lists. Please call for details.

By law, only residents that are not under contract with a supplier and are current on their local utility energy bills may be sent an opt-out card. Residents who have already made a choice will not be sent an opt-out notice. One of the many benefits provided by Energy Alliances is our arrangement with suppliers to allow residents to “opt-in” to the program at any time by calling the toll-free customer service number. Those residents should review their current supplier’s contract beforehand to avoid the possibility of any early termination penalties.

To report service problems, a gas leak, billing problems, meter reading, estimated readings, repair issues, and budget payment plan amounts, you will still call your local utility. If you have questions regarding the Aggregation Program or the supplier rate, you should call the supplier. This information is listed on your bill and telephone numbers are provided.

See Why Does My Bill Seem High?

Electric aggregation eligibility is set by Ohio Administration Code 4901:1-21-17(E)(1) and natural gas aggregation eligible is set by Ohio Administration Code 49:01:1-28-04(E) We've reordered them based on the questions that come up the most.

Who is eligible:

• Those that are not with an alternate supplier already at the time the opt-out letters go out.
  • More details about this situation follow
• Those that have not previously opted-out of the aggregation during the current term.
• Those that are not on the Percentage of Income Payment Plan with the utility.
• Those physically located in the geographic boundary of the community.
• Electric Only - Those that do not appear on PUCO's "Do Not Aggregate" list.
• Volume Eligibility
  • Electric: Those "small commercial" accounts that use less than 700,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually.
  • Natural Gas: "Those customers that use less than 5,000 100-cubic-feet (ccf) annually