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Contact: Ryan Lippe
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Letter to the Editor - Aggregation ballot issues

Consumers in several Ohio communities will vote on electric and natural gas aggregation issues on Tuesday, May 5.

This is an example of the letter to the editor sent to media outlets in communities where electric and natural gas aggregation issues will appear on the May 2009 ballot. Individual letters covered the following communities:

Mahoning County: Boardman Township (Electric and natural gas), Canfield (Electric and natural gas), Poland (Electric and natural gas), Struthers (Electric)

Meigs County: Pomeroy (Natural gas)

Montgomery County: West Carrollton (Natural gas)

Trumbull County: Girard (Electric)

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April 27, 2009

To the Editor:

On Tuesday, May 5, residents of Boardman Twp., Canfield, Girard, Poland and Struthers will have an opportunity to vote on an issue that would allow their local government to pool together, or "aggregate," their community's electric and/or natural gas loads in an effort to save money on utility bills.

If the aggregation ballot issue passes, your local government is authorized to meet with energy suppliers, negotiate a price and make decisions about the purchase of energy service that best meets the needs of your community. While most residents will automatically be included in the group, they still will have the option of withdrawing from the program if they so choose. Customers who have already selected an alternative supplier are not eligible to participate.

The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC), the residential utility consumer advocate, encourages residents to learn more about the aggregation process and the potential savings opportunities it may provide. The OCC's fact sheet, "The Basics of Governmental Aggregation," gives residents a detailed overview of the program and how it works can be obtained by contacting the OCC toll free at 1-877-PICKOCC or visiting www.pickocc.org.

Sincerely,  

Janine L. Migden-Ostrander
Consumers' Counsel

 

About the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC), the residential utility consumer advocate, represents the interests of 4.5 million households in proceedings before state and federal regulators and in the courts. The state agency also educates consumers about electric, natural gas, telephone and water issues and resolves complaints from individuals. To receive utility information, brochures, schedule a presentation or file a utility complaint, residential consumers may call 1-877-PICKOCC (1-877-742-5622) toll free in Ohio or visit the OCC Web site at www.pickocc.org.