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Elmhurst's city council voted this month to put a referendum on the March ballot asking voters to allow the city to pursue electric aggregation, a program that allows local governments to bundle, or aggregate, residential and small commercial retail electric accounts and seek bids for a cheaper source of power, according to the city's Finance, Council Affairs and Administrative Services Committee. ComEd would still deliver the power, and be responsible billing, regardless of the electricity supplier.
If the referendum passes, Elmhurst would join a growing list of communities that have already approved aggregation, or are looking to do so.
Oak Park, Oak Brook, Lincolnwood and Grayslake have already passed aggregation referendums, and Oak Park is the first municipality in the state to choose all green electricity, according to local environmental group Elmhurst Cool Cities.
If the referendum passes, the city would hold two public hearings on a plan of operation in late spring 2012. According to a timeline provided by the city, it would solicit bids for electricity in early summer and announce the winning bidder by August. Residents who chose not to participate would have several opportunities to "opt out" of the program.
Elmhurst's city council voted this month to put a referendum on the March ballot asking voters to allow the city to pursue electric aggregation, a program that allows local governments to bundle, or aggregate, residential and small commercial retail electric accounts and seek bids for a cheaper source of power, according to the city's Finance, Council Affairs and Administrative Services Committee. ComEd would still deliver the power, and be responsible billing, regardless of the electricity supplier.
If the referendum passes, Elmhurst would join a growing list of communities that have already approved aggregation, or are looking to do so.
Oak Park, Oak Brook, Lincolnwood and Grayslake have already passed aggregation referendums, and Oak Park is the first municipality in the state to choose all green electricity, according to local environmental group Elmhurst Cool Cities.
If the referendum passes, the city would hold two public hearings on a plan of operation in late spring 2012. According to a timeline provided by the city, it would solicit bids for electricity in early summer and announce the winning bidder by August. Residents who chose not to participate would have several opportunities to "opt out" of the program.
