Barrington Hills suggests electric alternative

Despite the narrow defeat of last March’s electricity aggregation referendum in Barrington Hills, village officials remained convinced they could find a way to help residents cut costs on their bills.

Bartlett and Barrington Hills were the only two Northwest suburbs that held a vote on the question to see it defeated. And in Barrington Hills, it was by an especially slim margin of 25 votes. The vote was on whether to authorize their municipality to organize a general opt-out of ComEd as an electricity supplier and seek savings through an alternate supplier.

But even though there won’t be an opt-out program, Trustee Karen Selman researched a way by which the village could organize an opt-in program for residents who say they are interested in joining together to get a cheaper supplier.

Such a program likely wouldn’t save quite as much as the opt-out option originally sought, but it would do better than just passively accepting ComEd rates, Selman said.

While legal, such a program would require as much use of village resources as the opt-out program, including holding two public hearings, she added.

Given that, village board members this week voted to simply provide information and assistance to help residents seek out alternate suppliers themselves on an individual basis.

Village President Robert Abboud said he thinks more residents will have a greater interest in this now as there seems to be better understanding of what aggregation is since the referendum.

The village has already posted a state list of alternate providers at its website at barringtonhills-il.gov/. And within the next week, a more thorough explanation of making contact with an alternate supplier will be posted.

Though consumers can now choose their electricity supplier, ComEd will continue to run the distribution system.