Village Selects 'First Energy' as Electrical Aggregation Supplier [UPDATED]

Residents in Downers Grove will soon have a new supplier of electricity. The in conjunction with the Village of Westmont have awarded an electric supply contract to First Energy as part of its Electrical Aggregation program.

The new contract carries a two-year fixed rate of 4.75 cents per kilowatt hour for those eligible which represents a saving of 42 percent when compared to ComEd's non-summer rate, the village said. The price reduction refers only to the electricity supply portion of the bill and not the delivery itself.

During the pre-qualification request for proposal, seven suppliers responded, and from that list four suppliers were ultimately considered in the final selection process. The main criteria for the suppliers were their ability to enter into a two year contract, offer the greatest savings and offer an electrical supply offset by 100 percent renewable energy credit. Including Renewable Energy Credits on a one-to-one match guarantees the energy used is added to the power grid from a renewable energy facility, which according to the village, supports further development of green energy sources.

The new rate, which will save the average household an estimated $350 annually, is expected to take effect later this summer for all eligible customers. Most residential customers with the exception of those already under a contract with a third-party supplier other than ComEd are expected to be eligible, as are businesses that use less than 15,000 kilowatt hours per year.

All eligible customers will be automatically enrolled into the program unless they elect to opt out, and customers should expect to receive a letter from First Energy in the mail explaining more in the coming weeks.

In March, 62 percent of Downers Grove residents through a ballot referendum. In April, the village staff recommended the village not join an aggregation group and instead , which they did with the village of Westmont. The benefit of partnering with Westmont was the ability to offer a larger pool of customers to aggregate the rate, said village director of communications Doug Kozlowski.

“The village explored all of the opportunities available and reached out to colleagues in other communities to see what they were doing and had in mind, and a partnership with Westmont was a good fit,” Kozlowski said.