Elgin, too, will try for cheaper electricity

Elgin, like many other municipalities throughout the state, likely will ask voters to determine whether the city should negotiate their electricity contracts.

City council members on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to put a question on the March 20 ballot. If approved, city officials expect to save residents and small businesses an average of 20 percent on their electric bills by using bulk purchasing power to negotiate lower rates with alternative suppliers.

“If the city finds a better electric rate that ComEd’s, then all city residents and small businesses will use the new provider,” read a memo to council members. “Residents or small businesses who wish to keep receiving power from ComEd at the higher rate may individually choose to opt out.”

If a new provider is selected, the electricity would still come through ComEd’s infrastructure and that company would still issue the bills and take calls in the case of power outages.

In approving the ballot measure, council members also indicated support for choosing Chicago-based BlueStar Energy Solutions as a consultant to help conduct outreach and education leading up to the vote as well as choose an alternative energy supplier if the ballot question is approved.

And the good news for those eyeing the city’s expenditures is that the city of Elgin never will be charged.

“If the referendum doesn’t go through we don’t pay the consultant,” Assistant City Manager Rick Kozal said. “If it does, fees generated are paid for by whichever supplier wins the game.”

The council officially will approve the consultant choice and the ballot question Dec. 21.