Why to vote ‘no’ on electric referendum

When you vote March 20 you will have a referendum on your ballot that reads, “Shall the Village of Bartlett 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?”

As your village trustee, I was opposed to this going to referendum, but the board passed it anyway.

I encourage you to vote “No.”

타 What business is it of the government who you use for your utility service? In the early days of cable, your municipality would choose who could offer cable television in town — there was virtually no choice for the consumer, rates were whatever the company wanted them to be and it was not until satellite companies entered the market that the consumer had a choice.

타 Why should you have to opt out of such a program? Shouldn’t you be given the option to opt in? What if you forget, what about residents who do not get proper notice to opt out?

타 Shouldn’t you be free to make your own choice at any time and not be restricted to the company the government thinks is best for you?

타 What happens if the company that wins the contract with Bartlett files for bankruptcy? The companies would have you believe nothing would happen; you would default back to ComEd. Around 15 years ago telecom companies that entered the market competing with Ameritech told consumers that if they went out of business they would default back to Ameritech with no loss of service. That was not always the case ... there were thousands of customers left without phone service for hours and sometimes days.

I am not suggesting you not shop around for your best deal for electricity, I think you should. I look at the info I get, I compare it to ComEd and I make my own decision, as should you. But if you vote for the referendum or don’t vote at all, you will be letting someone else make the choice for you.

Frank Napolitano

Bartlett Village Trustee