Rushcreek Township voters will decide whether or not they support an electricity aggregation program initiative on the Nov. 5 ballot.
“Aggregation is when a group of customers 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 for the group members than you can get on your own,” according to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio website.
The initiative will allow Aspen Energy Corp. to combine residential and small business/small commercial energy “loads” together to pursue a better price for Rushcreek energy consumers.
Aspen currently serves about 20,000 customers with nearly 40 communities that have aggregation programs.
“This is really the best way to bring a value to the community,” said Jay Sell, Aspen Energy Corp. major accounts associate.
The purpose of an aggregation program is to get a better deal for everyone — better than they could get on their own, Sell explained.
The practice of aggregation isn’t new.
There are more than 300 communities in Ohio participating in an aggregation program.
Those eligible for the program are Rushcreek Township residents who are not with another supplier other than Dayton Power & Light Company, or on an existing co-op or on a current contract.
Rick Kennedy, trustee chairman, estimated about 60 percent of Rushcreek residents will be eligible for the program.
If passed, Aspen will negotiate a price per kilowatt hour with about 11 aggregators, ultimately choosing one energy supplier for the entire township.
“The goal is to bring a savings to the community,” Sell said.
The initiative allows residents to opt out within the first 21 days with no fee. Residents also have the option of opting out at anytime during the agreement at no cost, as well. If a customer opts out, they can always choose to opt back in at no charge.
If passed, the program would be implemented in March or April.
Residents would start seeing the benefits of the program on their bills perhaps a month or two after the start date of the program — likely in May or June.
Chad Dolbeer, Aspen senior energy consultant, said it is difficult to know what the savings will look like, but Aspen will do everything it can to come in with a lower price.
“We will try to get the most savings we can for the community,” Sell said.
If passed, there will be two more public hearings about the aggregation program, one during the day between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and one after business hours.
“Those will be round-table discussions,” Sell explained.
The no opt-out fee is the real benefit to the community, he added.
“It is giving something that might help and saying you can get out of it at no cost,” Sell said.
Kennedy said Rushcreek Township Trustees are “very much on board” with the aggregation initiative.
“The three of us (trustees) are on board with the public having the benefit of energy savings through the aggregation program,” he said. “We’ve been sold on it .The three of us recommend DP&L customers support it.”
The opt-out-at no-cost feature is the biggest selling point, Kennedy continued, in addition to the kilowatt per hour savings.
“We have an organization (Aspen) watching the markets, negotiating for the best price, staying informed (and) keeping us informed,” he said. “It’s a lot better — in our minds (and) in my mind — than doing it alone and doing it just you individually … It’s a win win.”