Now that the Village has completed the Municipal Aggregation program, residents are enjoying their lower electric rates.

NIMEC has created a new website to help Village residents “see” their savings. It takes about 30 seconds to calculate your monthly/annual savings.

My ComEd Bill

This is an easy to use site for residents to “see” their savings.

AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE VILLAGE OF ORLAND PARK AND NORDIC ENERGY SYSTEMS, LLC TO PROVIDE FULL-REQUIREMENTS ELECTRICITY SUPPLY AND RELATED SERVICES FOR THE VILLAGE'S ELECTRIC AGGREGATION PROGRAM

Master Power Supply Agreement

Below is a very helpful informational queston and answer sheet regarding the Electrical Aggretation Program with Nordic Energy Services, L.L.C.

Frequently Asked Questions

Contract for Professional Technical Consulting

On Tuesday, March 20, Village of Orland Park voters approved the electrical aggregation referendum by more than 65%, giving the village permission to seek lower electricity supply rates for its residents and small businesses through an opt-out electricity aggregation program.

“Orland Park continues to play a leadership role in helping its residents and businesses conserve energy and save money,” said Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin. “We took the savings message to the public and our residents resoundingly approved electrical aggregation for the village,” the mayor added.

A January 1, 2010 state law allowed municipalities to aggregate and transfer residents’ and small commercial retail customers’ electric accounts to alternative electric suppliers. Electrical power would be produced by a company other than ComEd with ComEd continuing to supply electricity to residents over ComEd’s electricity grid. ComEd customers who are part of the group purchasing will continue to be billed by ComEd and will continue to contact ComEd with service needs.
 

Residents will receive notification from the Village of Orland Park once the required steps for electrical aggregation are completed and a vendor is chosen.

“We’re getting calls from residents who are being contacted directly by electricity vendors,” McLaughlin said. “These vendors are not affiliated with the village and we encourage residents to wait until we complete the post referendum steps necessary to choose a vendor for the village,” the mayor cautioned.

 

“It’s all about the savings,” said Trustee James Dodge, who chairs the village’s Information, Technology and Community Engagement Committee. “In 2011, nineteen Illinois towns passed referenda and they’re now paying rates below ComEd’s current residential rate of 7.73 cents per kWh,” Dodge noted. “In 2012, Orland Park was one of 300 municipalities that brought electrical aggregation to its voters,” he said.

“When a community enters negotiations by pooling together its entire electricity load, suppliers will offer lower rates. Buying in bulk enables the village to secure the savings for its residents,” McLaughlin explained.

The Village of Orland Park is working NIMEC, the Northern Illinois Municipal Electrical Collaborative. “NIMEC has been a leader in negotiating rates for sixteen of the nineteen communities that have approved electrical aggregation before Orland Park,” explained Village Manager Paul Grimes.

Now that the referendum has been approved, the village will develop and adopt a plan of operation and governance for its Electricity Aggregation Program. Public input will be welcomed at two public hearings on Monday, April 2 and Monday, April 16, at 7:00 p.m. at the Frederick T. Owens Village Hall, 14700 South Ravinia Avenue.

“Once the two public hearings have been held, an ordinance will be presented to allow the village to negotiate electrical rates,” Grimes said.  “Any resident who doesn’t want to participate in the electrical aggregation program will have the opportunity to opt-out, thereby continuing to purchase power from ComEd,” McLaughlin said. “We want our residents to be comfortable and not obligated to participate in the program if they so choose,” McLaughlin added.

More information will be made available to the public throughout the process.  Further information on electrical aggregation can be found on the village’s website at www.orland-park.il.us or by calling the village’s Office of Public Information at 708-403-6150.

The Village of Orland Park is joining communities throughout the state as it considers an electrical aggregation program. Aggregation refers to many customers joining together to form a buying group, in this case for electrical service for residential and small business customers in the Village of Orland Park.

“The village buying electricity collectively could potentially mean an annual savings of 15 to 20% on the energy portion of an electric bill,” said Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin. “A number of municipalities in the state have implemented programs like this to help their residents and small businesses save money. It also provides an option for those who choose not to be a part of the program,” the mayor added.

On December 16, 1997, the State of Illinois implemented a plan to deregulate Commonwealth Edison. Under the plan, ComEd no longer generates electricity for its customers but continues to provide power through its distribution system. Electrical customers are able to purchase power through any of the 23 Illinois Commerce Commission approved alternative retail electric suppliers. The energy portion is typically two-thirds of an electric bill.

“We’ve received a number of calls from residents asking that Orland Park make this available,” McLaughlin said.

A January 1, 2010 state law allows municipalities to aggregate and transfer their residents’ and small commercial retail customers’ electric accounts to alternative electric suppliers. Electrical power would be produced by a company other than ComEd with ComEd continuing to supply electricity to residents over ComEd’s electricity grid. ComEd customers who are part of the group purchasing will continue to be billed by ComEd and will continue to contact ComEd with service needs.

During the April, 2011 elections, 24 communities served by ComEd placed referenda on the ballot with a majority of the towns approving the referendum. Area communities that have successfully implemented aggregation programs include New Lenox, Oak Brook, Oak Park and Glenwood.

“If people don’t want to be a part of the group buying, they will be able to opt out,” McLaughlin noted. “However, those who want to take advantage of our buying as a large group could potentially save $150 to $200 a year for an average electric bill. For a typical family, that could pay for a week of groceries or other expenses. This could mean up to $3 million dollars saved annually by the entire community,” the mayor added.

To initiate the program, state law requires that the Orland Park Board of Trustees adopt a resolution to add a referendum to the Tuesday, March 20, 2012 Illinois Primary Ballot. The Village Board approved adding the referendum to the March ballot at its December 19 meeting.

Worded by the State of Illinois, the referendum asks, “Shall the Village of Orland Park have the authority to arrange for the supply of electricity for its residential and small commercial retail customers who have not opted out of such program?” The advisory referendum enables the village to negotiate and research electrical service providers.

After the March election, the village will request electrical load data from ComEd that will be used for the bid process seeking electricity providers. The board would then adopt an ordinance authorizing the electricity aggregation program.

Residents choosing not to be a part of the program will have an opportunity to opt out, thereby continuing to purchase power from ComEd. Regardless of whether a resident chooses to participate, the electric service will continue to come from ComEd.

“Orland Park will continue to play a leadership role in helping its residents and businesses conserve energy and save money,” McLaughlin said, noting the village’s recent invitation for residents to join the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) Energy Saving Team. This CUB program enables residents to track their electrical use and offers tips for conserving energy, saving money and earning reward points for electrical savings.

Further information about the Village of Orland Park’s consideration of an electrical aggregation program can be found on the village’s website, www.orland-park.il.us.

Electrical Aggregation: Frequently Asked Questions