Endorsement: Yes on electrical aggregation

Numerous suburbs have set a ballot resolution April 9 asking their residents for permission to negotiate with companies other than ComEd to supply electricity. We encourage voters in those towns to do what scores of other suburban towns have already done — vote yes and begin saving money.

Through aggregation, communities combine consumers into a groups, enabling them to leverage greater buying power and presumably achieve lower rates for electricity. The most controversial feature in some cases is that residents who don’t want to participate may have to “opt out.” But public hearings are required, and residents who think they can get better rates on their own will have opportunities to turn the program down.

No matter who supplies electricity to a community, ComEd will still provide service, delivery and billing, so any change essentially will be seamless for consumers. We recommend a YES vote.