Electric aggregation headed back on ballot

SPRINGFIELD — County officials will once again seek voter approval for electric aggregation and will put the issue on the November ballot.

Officials met with Thomas Strup of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio and Kirklan Mizerek of Palmer Energy Co. to discuss a possible consultation agreement.

The measure failed with county residents in May, but succeeded in the city of Springfield and the villages of Tremont City and Catawba.

“I don’t think people understood it,” Commissioner David Hartley said, “and when you don’t understand something, you vote ‘No.’ ”

Mizerek told commissioners that probably the best tactic is to have the townships individually put it on the ballot so township trustees can be involved in explaining the issue to the public.

The townships would receive half of an incentive grant from FirstEnergy Corp. to become part of its aggregation program, Hartley said.

If approved, the government would be authorized to act as a buying agent with FirstEnergy. Under the program, residents could save 6 percent on generation costs and businesses would have been offered 4 percent savings over a nine-year term.

Customers who preferred not to participate in the program would have been able to opt out every three years without penalty or pay a $25 fee to cancel at any time.

Officials have until Aug. 4 to approve putting the issue back on the ballot.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0374 or boutten@coxohio.com.

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