Hilliard’s Green-Energy Electric Aggregation

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Hilliard’s Green-Energy Electric Aggregation

On June 14, 2023, Hilliard City Council voted to have the City contract with Dynegy Energy Services as the provider for its green-energy electric aggregation program, which was approved by voters in November 2022.

Dynegy was selected based on a combination of the price it quoted and because it offers a “net metering program” that allows residents with solar panels to sell energy back to the power grid.

The rate for those enrolled in the program will be 6.99 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) – almost 5 cents less per kWh than AEP’s June 2023 market price of 11.84 cents per kWh. The program went into effect in September 2023, with residents first seeing the aggregated rates appearing on their October 2024 electric bills. 

The contract between Dynegy and the City is for 24 months, but residents are not locked into a contract. Residents may choose to opt out of this program at any time and at no additional cost.

Residents also will have an option of participating in a program that offers electricity sourced from more traditional sources. That price will be 6.63 cents per kWh. 

Electricity will continue to be provided to residents on AEP’s existing power lines, and AEP will continue to be the company to call for power outages and other service problems.

Residents who have not already opted out of the aggregation program (and who are not already in a contract with another provider) are automatically enrolled in the City’s green-energy program program, unless they choose to opt out and select their own provider.

Electric Aggregation Basics

  • On Nov. 8, 2022, Hilliard voters authorized the City to create a green-energy electric aggregation program. The goals of the program are to promote and create electricity produced by clean, sustainable sources and to get the lowest-possible bulk rate the City can negotiate for sustainably sourced electricity for residential, business, and other electric consumers.
  • Such a program allows the City to leverage the power of aggregation to negotiate a favorable bulk rate for sustainably sourced electricity on behalf of residents, businesses, and other organizations.
  • This eco-friendly program can source electricity generated in sustainable methods, such as solar and wind. The source of this electricity also can include the purchase of renewable energy certificates – basically, buying credits for renewable energy generated elsewhere in the country.
  • Electric customers can choose to opt out of the program at any time and at no cost.
  • Have a question about this ballot initiative or sustainable electric aggregation? Ask us today!

A Sustainable Choice

A major benefit of this aggregation program is that all electricity will be required to come from sustainable sources, such as solar and wind generation.
 
If there is not enough sustainably sourced electricity geographically available to supply all participating Hilliard consumers, the program will buy renewable energy credits for sustainable energy generated elsewhere in the country. Regardless of your choice, you will continue to receive the same level of service on the same power lines that you do today.
 

Why insist on green energy? Because it aligns with the City of Hilliard’s overall efforts to protect our environment, save natural resources, promote healthy lifestyles, and ensure future generations will enjoy calling this community a great place to live, learn, play, and work!

Is Participation Guaranteed to Save Money?

The negotiated prices at the time the City agreed to contract with Dynegy were approximately 4 cents less per kilowatt hour than AEP’s market rate.

 

Electric prices constantly fluctuate, and the economics of green energy production are different than coal and natural gas-based production. So, there is no guarantee how Hilliard’s negotiated bulk rate for sustainable electricity will perform over time compared to the price individual customers will pay on the open market. 

 

By leveraging the power of aggregation in negotiating prices, we seek the most competitive rate possible for this sustainably sourced electricity.

 

Fortunately, residents have the ability to opt out of the program at any time and at no additional cost.

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