In the dead of summer when the heat is driving you nearly mad, it's hard to comtemplate turning off the air conditioner for even an hour. The hotter it gets, the cooler you want it, the higher your energy bill soars. In July 2012, the hottest month on record, beating out the Dust Bowl in July 1936, Illinois' Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program was flooded with applications begging for financial help. Just in time for this costly summer, Illinois municipalities have begun working with Good Energy to pass a referendum on the November ballot for a municipal aggregation plan, which which will allow residents of Illinois to collectively buy energy, thus driving down the price. So, in addition to cutting costs by circulating cooler air with a fan and keeping the shades closed during the blazing hot daytime, Good Energy is working with county governments to negotiate a lower price for energy with independent suppliers.