From GoodEnergy.com: Smaller Illinois communities, including Mason, also eager to implement municipal aggregation plan

Mason is one in a long line of Illinois cities and counties interested in implementing energy aggregation in its community. Just in time for the Aug. 20 deadline, Mason placed on the Nov. 6 ballot a referendum in support of energy aggregation. Between then and election day, and with the help of Good Energy, town officials will work to inform voters about energy aggregation. If the referendum passes and the program proceeds, this could mean up to a 30 percent reduction in energy supply costs for residents as soon as January 2013. With a largely low-income and a significant aging population, Mason is a perfect candidate for energy aggregation. The only change residents will notice is a lower energy bill.

Source: GoodEnergy.com

From GoodEnergy.com: If municipal aggregation plan passed Nov. 6, Pittsfield, Ill. will work with Good Energy

Counties across Illinois are eagerly instituting municipal aggregation plans in the hopes of lowering energy costs for consumers and Good Energy is helping lead the way. The Pittsfield City Council has just picked Good Energy over Simec Energy to guide the city through energy supply negotiations. The consulting company, which is based in New York, will receive a fee for their work only if the county successfully negotiates a bid with a new energy supply company. And even then, the fee will be paid for by the energy company, not by the city.

Source: GoodEnergy.com

From GoodEnergy.com: Another Illinois City Makes the Decision to Bid for Cheaper Energy

Decatur, Ill. has started working with Good Energy to institute a municipal aggregation program which will open up the energy supply market, forcing companies to vie for the city's business. Recently, the Decatur City Council voted to approve an "opt-out" program, meaning that all residents will be automatically enrolled in the program offered by a new electricity supply company. Electricity will still be delivered by Ameren Illinois, and residents will still receive a bill from Ameren, but if all goes well with the push for municipal aggregation, the company will no longer supply the generation portion of the power to the people of Decatur. And for all of this, the city does not pay a dime to Good Energy. Their fee will come from the contract-winning energy supply company.

Source: GoodEnergy.com

From GoodEnergy.com: Election day in Illinois nears for municipal aggregation referendum

When Illinois residents go to the polls Nov. 6, they'll be voting on the next president of the United States and the freedom to collectively negotiate a lower price for energy. More than a dozen Illinois counties and towns have independently agreed to place a referendum to allow a municipal aggregation plan on the upcoming ballot. The more counties which vote to allow municipal aggregation, the lower they'll help drive the cost of energy. Though the economics are simple, the language can be confusing. To help, Good Energy will be on the ground in Illinois explaining to residents what a municipal aggregation plan means for their energy bill. Good Energy's message is simple: Municipal aggregation means lower costs with no extra work for consumer.

Source: GoodEnergy.com

From GoodEnergy.com: In time for August deadline, Jerseyville, Ill. puts municipal aggregation on November ballot

A second wave of Illinois counties interested in implementing a municipal aggregation program is coalescing. The Jerseyville City Council has just agreed to put the referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot. If it passes, Jerseyville and about 200,000 other households will be eligible to accept contracts from independent energy suppliers for a better kilowatt per hour rate. And they will join the 51 other Illinois counties which voted earlier this year to implement municipal aggregation plans. With the help of Good Energy, the participating counties signed a two-year contract with a new energy supplier. Over the next couple months, Good Energy will talk residents of Jerseyville and other Illinois counties through the changes they'll see on their monthly energy bill, what municipal aggregation is, and what each resident will have to do to enroll. 

Source: GoodEnergy.com

Aurora: Opt-Out Period Has Ended

The Opt-Out period for residents and small commercial ComEd customers in Aurora ended on Friday, August 10th.
Most customers who chose to participate will see the new rate on their October ComEd bills for service received in September.  Some may not actually see the change reflected until November for October service, but the new supplier, FirstEnergy Solutions, is hard at work tranisitioning accounts as quickly as possible so savings can be had.   

Customers in Ameren Territory: Opt-Out Rates Have Begun

Residents and small commercial customers that are participating in the municipal electricity Opt-Out program are now beginning to see the newly reduced rates on their August Ameren bills...and just in time for summer.
Account holders are sending us their bills to show off their savings.  Today, one public official sent us a copy of his August Ameren bill for July service.  This customer saved $29.29 (33.5%) for this month alone!  Every month will vary, based on how much electricity is being used, and depending on whether summer or winter rates are in effect.

From GoodEnergy.com: As the mercury climbs and energy bills rise this summer, Illinois residents negotiate cheaper energy

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.

Source: GoodEnergy.com

From GoodEnergy.com: After rejecting municipal aggregation once, St. Clair County has another shot to pass referendum

In the second wave of Illinois counties approving municipal aggregation, St. Clair County is going to get with the program and pass the referendum, Philip Carr of Good Energy says. That county officials have voted unanimously to put the referendum on the ballot a second time is a good indication that they believe there's no downside to implementing the plan. Apart from lower energy rates, nothing will change for consumers. Ameren Illinois will still handle energy delivery and billing, but consumers will see a lower kilowatt per hour rate. Since municipal aggregation became possible in the state of Illinois 243 municipalities and counties have gotten on board, and though St. Clair County had the chance to pass the referendum with the first round, it was defeated on the March 20 ballot by about 1,000 votes. The county will vote again on Nov. 6.

Source: GoodEnergy.com

Aurora (ComEd): Opt-Out Letters Now Being Sent

Opt-Out letters for Aurora (ComEd) are now being sent.  The Opt-Out period will end on August 10th.  Aurora Residents will begin to see savings in September.  But remember, the lowered rate will not be reflected until you receive your October ComEd bill for September service.