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Electrical aggregation details discussed in La Grange
Updated: February 7, 2013 5:25PM
LA GRANGE — The Village Board held the first of two public hearings Monday on details of an electrical aggregation program approved by voters Nov. 6.
The measure allows the village to pool, or aggregate, the electric load of residents and small businesses and buy electricity on their behalf. The process is similar to the way the village negotiates for garbage and cable services for the entire community.
Residential and small business customers will be automatically enrolled unless they choose to opt out, explained Mark Pruitt, a consultant with the Illinois Community Choice Aggregation Network.
Resident Rose Naseef urged the board to pursue a supplier offering 100 percent renewable energy credit.
Currently suppliers in Illinois must supply 9 percent of their electricity through renewable energy sources with a goal of 25 percent by 2025. Pruitt said. The additional cost of choosing renewable energy credits is less than 4 percent higher, he said.
When asked what the savings on electric bills would amount to, Pruitt said ComEd charges 8.8 cents per kilowatt hour, and alternative suppliers are charging 4 to 5 cents per kilowatt hour.
The average household uses 10,000 kilowatt hours per year, Pruitt said, which could mean a savings of $380 with a new rate of 5 cents per kilowatt hour.
The board will hold a second public hearing at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Village Hall, 53 S. La Grange Road. Residents also may contact Andrianna Peterson, assistant village manager at apeterson@villageoflagrange.com or (708) 579-2315.
