May 2005 - Three Ohio communities have passed natural gas aggregation issues through the May 3 primary election ballot. Issues were approved in Conneaut (Ashtabula County), East Liverpool (Columbiana County) and Warrensville Heights (Cuyahoga County). The passage of the ballot issues give the local governments the authority to create natural gas buying pools and negotiate offers on behalf of their residents.

May 2005 - Residents in Canal Fulton, North Canton and most Stark County townships received information in the mail about their community's natural gas aggregation program. The mailing provided details about the rate being offered by Direct Energy, the company chosen by government officials to supply natural gas as part of the program. If residents wished to "opt out," or remove themselves from the buying pool, they needed to follow instructions to do so by May 5. Residents can contact Direct Energy toll free at 1-866-760-6040 for more information.

Northeast

The largest aggregation pool in the state is found in Northeast Ohio. The Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) is made up of over 100 member communities in the FirstEnergy, Columbia Gas of Ohio and Dominion East Ohio territories. The group offers electric and/or natural gas opt-out programs to approximately 500,000 residents. Currently, customers participating in the NOPEC natural gas aggregation program are served by either Dominion East Ohio Energy or Interstate Gas Supply (IGS).

Northwest

Nine communities in Toledo Edison's service territory in Northwest Ohio have banned together to purchase natural gas from Interstate Gas Supply (IGS). The program serves about 57,000 residential and small business customers in the cities of Maumee, Oregon, Sylvania, Toledo and Northwood; the Village of Holland; the unincorporated areas of Lucas County; and Lake Township in Wood County. The aggregation program offers residents a rate that is 35 cents lower per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) than the regulated rate charged by Dominion East Ohio.

Central

Several communities have joined together to purchase natural gas. The group includes households in the cities of Upper Arlington, Dublin, Bexley and Gahanna. These communities were able to negotiate a fixed rate of 89 cents per hundred cubic feet (Ccf) through 2005.

Southwest

In the fall of 2003, communities in the Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio service territory started the first opt-out natural gas aggregation program in the area. Approximately 6,765 households in Jackson Center, Lakeview, Minster, Tipp City, Versaille, and Yellow Springs are supplied by Interstate Gas Supply (IGS). For the second year of the program, residents will pay a flat rate of 92 cents per thousand cubic feet (Ccf) through November 2005.

In 2003 and 2004, the Miami Valley Communications Commission had an opt-in natural gas program for the residents of Centerville, Germantown, Kettering, Miamisburg, Moraine, Oakwood, Springboro and West Carrollton. The group continues to monitor the natural gas market and may consider a natural gas opt-in or opt-out program in the future.

Southeast

There is no natural gas aggregation activity to date.

Gas Aggregation

• Energy Aggregation in Ohio - A Guide For Local Governments
• Map of Aggregation Communities by County

General Aggregation Information

• Fact Sheets
  
  • Aggregation: Where Do We Go From Here?
  • The Basics of Governmental Energy Aggregation
  • Energy Aggregation for Your Organization
  • What Do We Do Next? - A Post Election Process for Aggregated Communities
• Ohio Aggregation Ballot Issue Results
  
  • November 2006 Ballot Results
  • May 2006 Ballot Results
  • November 2005 General Election Results
  • November 2004 Ballot Results
  • 2004 Primary Election Results
  • March 2004 Ballot Results
  • November 2003 Ballot Results
  • May 2003 Ballot Results
  • November 2002 Ballot Results
  • May 2002 Ballot Results
  • November 2001 Election Results
  • May 2001 Primary Results: Electricity Aggregation
  • 2000 General Election Electric Aggregation Results