Resources
What is government aggregation?
An aggregator is a person or organization that brings a group of customers together. A large buying group may be able to get better terms for the group members than you could get on your own. This “buying power” may also allow aggregators to negotiate for additional benefits for the group’s members such as consolidated billing, energy management services and energy use analysis. Ohio’s law allows for local government aggregation by cities, townships or counties, with "opt-in" or "opt-out" provisions for their consumers. All aggregators must be certified by the PUCO to make sure they are qualified to provide electricity or natural gas in Ohio.
What should I do?
Determine if you would like to stay with the supplier you have chosen or would like to join the governmental aggregation. The important thing to remember is that this process is time-sensitive. If you wish to stay with the supplier you have chosen, you must opt-out of the governmental aggregation. To do so, watch your mail for your opt-out notice. With all governmental aggregations, customers usually have 14 to 21 days to respond. All customers within a governmental aggregation will receive this notice with directions on how to opt-out. Do not discard the notice.
If you miss the opt-out deadline, you will still have one more opportunity to remove yourself from the governmental aggregation. Once the switch is scheduled to take place, customers will receive a notice from their local electric or natural gas utility stating that they are scheduled to be switched over, as well as the name of the supplier to which they will be switched. This notification will give the customer seven days from the postmark on that notice to contact the local utility if the information is not correct, or they wish to opt-out of the aggregation.
If you wish to join the governmental aggregation, talk to your supplier. You will want to find out what the penalties will be for leaving that contract and determine if these are penalties you are willing to accept.
Customers who are not interested in aggregating with their local municipality can sign-up with the PUCO's Do Not Aggregate list. , or call the customer service line at 800-686-PUCO.
For questions regarding the governmental aggregation or the procedures for opting-out of the aggregation pool, customers should contact their local government or the supplier that has been chosen to represent the community.