KETTERING — The first of two public hearings was held Tuesday by Kettering City Council on the city’s exploration of joining a regional utility aggregation.
“We’ve endeavored in recent months to work with other communities in the Miami Valley through the Miami Valley Communications Council on developing an aggregation program that is aimed at saving utility costs for our residents,” said Matt Greeson, City Manager.
>> $170,000 worth of stolen items from Miami Valley CTC found in Dayton home
Last week, Fairborn City Council voted to join the regional utility aggregation to help their residents find cost saving on their gas and electric bills.
Bob Snavely of Palmer Energy, the energy consultant of Ohio Municipal League and Miami Valley Communications Council (MVCC), spoke to the city council and audience members about the process of joining the regional utility aggregation.
“From a timing standpoint, we’re looking at the end of summer before we can fully get things moving. The next step will be an RFP process, an RFP is Request for Proposal we’ll send out the MVCC as a group and get bids from multiple suppliers for both electric and natural gas, natural gas supply electric generation. After that, we’ll put together a recommendation at Palmer and make a recommendation to the MVCC board on terms, price, and supplier. After that, we’ll bring those results to the group,” said Snavely.
>> NE Ohio train derailment: Experts explain why the Miami Valley’s water is safe
Residents will have the option to opt out of the program and will receive a letter that they would send back, allowing them to stay with their current utility company. Any resident who lives within the incorporated city will be eligible to participate in the program regardless if they live in another county.
“There’s no change in the service. Correct? Yes or no?,” asked city council member Tony Klepacz.
“That’s exactly correct, sir. No. If the lights go out, you still call the same folks, that utility serves the exact same way. There’s no change at all,” said Snagely.
The program’s goal is to start by the end of summer to early fall at which time, residents could see a difference in their bills. The city council will hold a second public hearing in two weeks.
©2023 Cox Media Group
