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What is municipal and county aggregation?
Section 1-92 of the Illinois Power Agency Act allows for the aggregation of electric load by municipalities and
counties (i.e., government aggregation). This means a municipality or county can negotiate for the purchase of
the combined electric supply of its residents and eligible small businesses.
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Which municipalities and counties are pursuing government aggregation?
Only communities in the Ameren Illinois and ComEd service territories are pursuing aggregation at this time.
Click
here for a list of those communities.
Section 1-92 of the Illinois Power Agency Act does not authorize aggregation of customers served by electric cooperatives
or by a municipality that owns and operates its own electric distribution system.
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Is there more than one type of aggregation program?
Yes, there are two different types of aggregation programs: Opt-out and Opt-in.
Opt-out requires the voters of a municipality or county to pass a referendum that automatically combines the electric
load for residential and eligible small businesses for purchasing purposes except for those customers who actively choose
not to participate in the municipality's or county's purchase program.
Opt-in aggregation program means that after the authorities within a municipality or county adopt an ordinance to combine
the electric load for residential and eligible small businesses for purchasing purposes, only those residents and eligible
small businesses that actually take action to “opt-in” to participate in the aggregation program are able to have their
electric load included in the aggregation program and take advantage of the price negotiated on their behalf.
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Why would a municipality or county board pursue government aggregation?
Communities are choosing to pursue aggregation because they may be able to help their residents and eligible small
businesses save money by creating a combined customer group that has more buying power than individual residents and
businesses and/or they may choose an electric supply offer that includes a higher percentage of "green" power.
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What action must I take if my community approves an aggregation program and I want to have my electric supply included in the program?
If your community approves an opt-out aggregation program, which most communities are pursuing, you do not need to take any action
in order to participate in the aggregation program and to get the negotiated electric supply price. If you decide not to participate
in the aggregation program, you will need to take action to opt-out.
If your community selected an opt-in aggregation program, you will need to take affirmative action to participate in the program
and receive the negotiated price for your electric supply. Information will be sent to your home from your municipality or county
or the chosen supplier, explaining the steps you need to take to enroll with the supplier under the aggregation program.
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How do I opt-out of an aggregation program?
The chosen supplier will send opt-out notices to all residents and eligible small businesses within the municipality or
county. You will need to fill out and return the opt-out notice in order to be excluded from the aggregation program.
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Is a municipal or county aggregation program my only choice for electric supply?
No. Customers in the Ameren Illinois and ComEd service territories have several electric supply choices, regardless
of whether your community has approved an aggregation program. Residential customers can choose from several
different suppliers, remain on the utility's fixed price bundled service, or participate in the utility's Real
Time Pricing Program. For more information about electric choice and to see a
list of offers in your area click
here.
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How long does the aggregation program last?
The term of the program is negotiated in the bidding process between the municipality or county and the supplier. The
Illinois aggregation programs currently in effect range from one year to three years in length.
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Who do I call if my power goes out?
You continue to call your local utility company (Ameren Illinois or ComEd). Ameren Illinois and ComEd provide the delivery
services for your electricity, delivering the electricity to your home, and are responsible for service and reliability
issues, regardless of whom you choose for your electric supplier.
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What does opt-out aggregation mean for customers that already have a contract with a supplier or are on the utility's residential real-time pricing program?
If you are enrolled with a supplier or the utility's residential real-time program at the time the opt-out notices are being sent out, you
will likely not be included in your municipality's or county's aggregation program. You may receive a different notification letter
about the program than your neighbors, explaining that your electric supply will not be included in the program unless you request
it to be. Please contact your municipality or county to find out what the process is for those customers.
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How will my bill change?
In most cases, you will continue to receive one bill from the utility that will contain both the utility's delivery charges and
the chosen supplier's electric supply charges billed at the negotiated rate. Please contact your municipality or county to
find out the chosen billing method.
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What does opt-out aggregation mean for customers on a Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) or Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) with the utility?
If the chosen supplier uses the utility to provide the billing for the aggregation program, the status of PIPP and LIHEAP customers
should not be affected. Please contact your municipality or county to find out what the process is for those customers.
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Will customers on an electric space heating rate be able to save money in an aggregation program?
Electric space heating rate customers may not save money. If you are considering a switch of electric supply, it is important
that you evaluate your annual usage and the rate being offered to you in order to determine what electric supply option best suits
your needs. However, electricity prices change all the time and you should contact your community to find out whether the aggregation
program will include space heat customers.
