Mundelein inks deal with new electricity supplier following referendum

Mundelein residents and small-business owners should start paying less for electricity this summer, now that village officials have approved a supply contract with a provider.

First Energy Solutions Corp. won the two-year village contract after promising a rate that’s an estimated 44 percent lower than ComEd’s rate.

The switch should save customers about $325 a year, village officials said.

Voters in Mundelein were among those who approved plans for their towns to combine residents’ electricity accounts and seek competitive quotes for service from other companies.

The opportunity arose from a 2011 Illinois Commerce Commission decision that deregulated the electric supply market.

Lake Zurich, Island Lake, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire and Long Grove are among the other Lake County towns taking similar steps.

Residents in some communities, including Waukegan and Barrington Hills, rejected proposals.

Mundelein Trustee Terri Voss called the opportunity to negotiate electrical service and rates “a great idea.”

In Mundelein, First Energy will charge people 4.77 cents per kilowatt hour of electricity. Starting June 1, ComEd plans to charge 8.5 cents per kilowatt hour, village officials said.

All of Mundelein’s residential and small-business accounts will automatically be switched to First Energy unless the property owner has already switched to an alternate electricity supplier, participates in a ComEd pricing program or opts out and chooses to stay with ComEd.

“They can choose not to participate if they feel we didn’t make a good deal,” Voss said. “But let’s face it, we can negotiate a better rate than they can individually.”

People who previously had switched to other supplies can join the village program by calling First Energy Solutions and enrolling. The company’s number is (866) 636-3749.

Residents and business owners will continue to get one bill from ComEd because ComEd will continue delivering electricity to homes and businesses. The document will include electrical supply charges from First Energy.

The village board approved the contract with First Energy last week. The new rate should be effective by August, officials said.