Algonquin to vote on electric aggregation again

Algonquin voters will again weigh in on a referendum question that asks whether they want the village to negotiate lower electricity rates on their behalf.

The village board Tuesday unanimously approved adding the electric aggregation question to the March ballot. Voters last saw the question in 2012 and the measure failed by 11 votes.

If voters approve the referendum this time, Algonquin would negotiate a bulk purchase of electricity that could result in savings up to 27 percent for residential and small commercial property owners, said Michael Kumbera, assistant to the village manager. Residents would retain the right to opt out of any new coverage.

ComEd would still provide service, delivery and billing.

What’s different this time is there now tangible evidence that shows the towns that welcomed electric aggregation in 2012 saw significant savings on their electric bills, Trustee Robert Smith said. The last time the village board tried to educate the residents, that data wasn’t available, he said.

“We can’t necessarily back it one way or the other, but we’re certainly going to put out information and evidence that it helped other communities save money,” Smith said. “There are real numbers to it now.”