Bartlett foolish to reject aggregation
According to the July 11 edition of the Daily Herald, towns neighboring Bartlett -- including Elgin, South Barrington and Pingree Grove -- are now paying an average of .0481 per kWh after their towns approved electrical aggregation.
My rate with ComEd in Bartlett, which voted down aggregation this past March, is .06214. In June alone, I might have saved at least $10 on electricity through aggregation; annually I could have saved nearly $150 if aggregation had passed.
Unfortunately, some trustees in Bartlett took an active role in persuading residents not to vote for aggregation. Trustee Frank Napolitano, in particular, often argued that it is not the place of government to seek to negotiate electrical rates, adding that residents have different needs and can shop rates for themselves.
However, a quick check at the ICC website shows all of the independent providers offering service in ComEd’s area are considerably higher than the average aggregation price secured by neighboring towns. The advantage of aggregation is the purchasing power a large group brings to a price negotiation. In addition, if a resident wanted to opt for, say, independent green electrical service, they still could have done so by opting out of aggregation.
If providing residents the service of a distinct purchasing advantage is not the appropriate role of local government, I’d like to ask Mr. Napolitano what is. Lower electrical prices gained through negotiation on our behalf would have been a valuable benefit to many residents. Now, we can only sit and watch as our neighbors enjoy their savings.
Melissa Owens
Bartlett