Opt-Out Notices to Begin Reaching Mailboxes This Week!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 02:40PM
The Committee for Municipal Electricity Choice

Homefield Energy, the winning electricity supplier for our group, will begin sending notices to residential and small commercial retail electricity account holders notifying them that a deal was struck between their local government (see list at bottom of Home tab) and Homefield for electricity supply at a much lower rate than what is currently being offered by Ameren, and for that matter, any other supplier currently certified to provide electricity in the Ameren service territory.  This letter, which will come on municipal/county letterhead, should not be confused with one of the many other offers currently inundating the area.  It will describe the program, what the savings are predicted to be, and will also provide a link to Homefield Energy so that you may look up the new rate for your community.  This will enable you to determine how much you will save. 

But how do you know what you are already paying with Ameren?  We are currently testing a calculator which will allow you to determine your Ameren rate.  In the meantime, however, if you haven’t already, go to the Ameren Energy website, and sign-in or register for an account and follow the instructions.  The site will provide you with your current Ameren price-to-compare.

For most of you, this is a new process and may be confusing, so let’s review a few key points:

  1. Homefield Energy is the winning supplier for this program.
  2. The new and greatly reduced price will begin for most in June, though you will not see the reduced rate until you receive your bill in July for June service.  You will continue to receive one bill from Ameren only for your electricity.
  3. The quality of service will be exactly the same.  Ameren is still responsible for delivering the power to your home/business.  If you experience an outage, contact AmerenAmeren is completely supportive of this program and is on public record as having said so.
  4. The Opt-Out letter from Homefield will begin hitting mailboxes on Friday, May 18th, 2012.  If you wish to participate in the program, you do not have to do anything.  If you do not wish to participate, complete the Opt-Out notice and mail back to Homefield.  It’s that easy!  If for some reason, you do not receive this letter or accidentally discard it, you will still have one more opportunity to not participate.  In this case, the letter will come from Ameren in June or early July confirming the switch to Homefield Energy; if you do not wish to participate, you may “rescind” for up to 10 days following the postmark on the Ameren letter.  Follow the instructions on this letter, and you will be returned to the rates offered by Ameren without penalty.  Keep in mind that the Ameren letter will not make any mention of municipal aggregation, but only that a switch in supplier (Homefield) has been made.
  5. For those who participate, the new rate will be in place through the end of May or June of 2014, 24 months in total.  

This program is meant to be very simple and offer you unmatched savings on your electricity supply cost, all while under the oversight of your local government.  They are to be commended for their efforts in joining together to make this program a reality.

 

Article originally appeared on munienergychoice (http://www.munienergychoice.com/).
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