What is the Columbia Township Electric Aggregation Program?
Under the Columbia Township Electric Aggregation Program, the Township acted on behalf of its electricity consumers to select an alternative electricity supply provider. Through the power of volume buying, the alternative supplier is able to secure electricity at lower prices in the wholesale market. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (“PUCO”) has taken steps to ensure that Ohio’s competitive electricity environment is consumer-friendly. The Township passed a resolution adopting an Electric Aggregation program and voters in the Township approved the program in 2011.
Currently IGS Energy serves as the Township’s electricity supplier and serves its residents and small businesses with generation service. Duke Energy continues to distribute the electricity. The contract with IGS began October 2014 and will continue through August 2020 at a fixed rate of 5.27 cents per kWh.
Who is IGS?
IGS is certified by the PUCO as a Competitive Retail Electric Service (CRES) provider. With an office located in Dublin, Ohio, IGS Energy sells electricity supply to customers at market-based prices rather than regulated rates offered by Duke Energy.
How do I enroll?
To enroll today, you should call IGS at 1-800-280-4474 and make sure to refer to the Columbia Township aggregation program. All eligible customers are automatically included in the program unless you chose to “opt-out.” If you “opted-out” or have a different supplier than IGS, you continue to be served by Duke Energy or alternative electric service provider you selected.
What if I am signed up with a different supplier?
In order to become “eligible” to join the Township’s aggregation program, you will have to cancel your current agreement first. Before you cancel your current agreement, you should ask about any termination fees. Normally there are no cancellation fees; however, some suppliers do have fees. It may be even a case where you would be better off to pay the fee and then enroll in the aggregation program depending on the current rate you are paying, especially if you are paying in excess of the Duke Price-To-Compare. You should be looking at your Duke bill when you call the current supplier and if you call IGS Energy. If you are with another supplier, you can find that supplier’s phone number on the Duke bill.
How do I estimate my savings?
To estimate what your savings per kilowatt-hour (kWh) will be through this program, locate your ‘Price to Compare’ on your electricity bill. This is the price you pay for electric generation and transmission service from Duke Energy. Take your ‘Price to Compare’ and subtract the current IGS price. This equates to your savings per kWh. Multiply your savings (if any) per kWh by your monthly usage (kWh) to determine your savings amount per month. The utility distribution charges and other utility charges and fees are not included in the savings calculation and will continue to be billed by Duke Energy. (Any estimate of savings is not a guarantee of savings.)
Where do I send payment?
You will continue to receive one bill each month from Duke Energy. The amount that you owe to IGS Energy will be stated separately on your bill but you will continue to send payments to Duke Energy only.
Can I cancel at any time?
Yes, you may cancel without penalty and switch to another provider or revert back to Duke Energy Ohio, the local utility.
What happens at the end of the program?
As the program draws to a close, the Township can choose to seek bids from electricity providers in order to negotiate a new contract on behalf of eligible households. The Township can also choose to end the program, at which time participants would be notified of their options for continuing in a different program with IGS Energy, switching to another provider, or reverting back to Duke Energy, the local utility.
Why did the Township select IGS Energy as its provider?
The Township selected IGS Energy because they were able to propose a program that represented the best overall value for eligible households. Several utilities were reviewed as a potential supplier.
What happens if my family moves to another home?
If you move to another home location within the Township, you will be able to continue participating in the program. If you leave the Township, you will no longer be eligible to participate.
What happens if my business moves to another home?
If you move to another business location within the Township, you will be able to continue participating in the program. If you leave the Township, you will no longer be eligible to participate.
What is considered a small commercial business?
A small commercial business has less than 700,000 kWh annual usage and must be a non-mercantile customer as defined by Ohio Administrative Code.