GALENA — Residents will get to decide on a proposed ordinance of a natural gas aggregation in the village during the upcoming Nov. 5 election.
The official ballot language reads:
“A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage. Shall the Village of Galena have the authority to aggregate the retail natural gas loads located in the Village of Galena, and for that purpose, enter into service agreements to facilitate for those loads the sale and purchase of natural gas, such aggregation to occur automatically except where any person elects to opt out?”
The village’s website has information on the proposed aggregation.
Dublin-based aggregator Aspen Energy “has guided more than 100 communities to form aggregated buying groups on behalf of their citizens which has resulted in significant energy saving for residents,” said a flyer on the village site. “Community Aggregation is an easy and cost-effective way for residential and small business customers to save money on their electric and natural gas bills. By bringing your community together, you increase your buying power, giving you and your neighbors access to better energy prices.”
The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC) also has a fact sheet called “The Basics of Governmental Energy Aggregation,” available on Galena’s site or at www.occ.ohio.gov.
The OCC said under state law, local governments (cities, counties, townships and villages) can be governmental aggregators on their own or with other local governments. The local governments can choose an opt-in or opt-out aggregation.
“In ‘opt-in’ aggregation, each resident needs to provide consent to participate and does not require voter approval. Other groups and organizations can also participate in opt-in aggregation,” the OCC said. “’Opt-out’ aggregation is a program that results in residents being automatically enrolled in the aggregation unless they individually opt-out of the program. The opt-out method requires voter approval and is the most common form of governmental aggregation in Ohio.”
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) certified Galena to pursue aggregation. The Galena Village Council then approved the opt-out method and placed it on the ballot. For more information, call 1-800-686-7826 or visit www.puco.ohio.gov.
If voters approve the issue, Village Council would need to develop a plan for the aggregation, with a minimum of two public hearings. Once the plan is adopted by council, “a notice must be sent to each resident explaining the services to be provided, the rates, other fees or charges, early termination charges, and other terms and conditions of service to be provided. The notice must also explain the procedure for consumers who wish to opt-out of aggregation.”
The OCC also has a fact sheet called “How to Make Wise Energy Choice” to help residents determine if they wish to opt-out.
For more information, call 740-965-2484 or visit www.galenaohio.gov.
Assistant Editor Gary Budzak covers the eastern half of Delaware County and surrounding areas. He can be reached at 740-413-0906.
