May 2005 - Three Ohio communities have passed natural
gas aggregation issues through the May 3 primary election ballot. Issues
were approved in Conneaut (Ashtabula County), East Liverpool (Columbiana
County) and Warrensville Heights (Cuyahoga County). The passage of the
ballot issues give the local governments the authority to create natural
gas buying pools and negotiate offers on behalf of their residents.
May 2005 - Residents in Canal Fulton, North Canton
and most Stark County townships received information in the mail about
their community's natural gas aggregation program. The mailing provided
details about the rate being offered by Direct Energy, the company chosen
by government officials to supply natural gas as part of the program.
If residents wished to "opt out," or remove themselves from
the buying pool, they needed to follow instructions to do so by May 5.
Residents can contact Direct Energy toll free at 1-866-760-6040 for more
information.
Northeast
The largest aggregation pool in the state is found in Northeast Ohio. The
Northeast
Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) is made up of over 100 member communities
in the FirstEnergy, Columbia Gas of Ohio and Dominion East Ohio territories.
The group offers electric and/or natural gas opt-out programs to approximately
500,000 residents. Currently, customers participating in the NOPEC natural
gas aggregation program are served by either Dominion East Ohio Energy
or Interstate Gas Supply (IGS).
Northwest
Nine communities in Toledo Edison's service territory in Northwest Ohio
have banned together to purchase natural gas from Interstate Gas Supply
(IGS). The program serves about 57,000 residential and small business customers
in the cities of Maumee, Oregon, Sylvania, Toledo and Northwood; the Village
of Holland; the unincorporated areas of Lucas County; and Lake Township
in Wood County. The aggregation program offers residents a rate that is
35 cents lower per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) than the regulated rate charged
by Dominion East Ohio.
Central
Several communities have joined together to purchase natural gas. The group
includes households in the cities of Upper Arlington, Dublin, Bexley and
Gahanna. These communities were able to negotiate a fixed rate of 89 cents
per hundred cubic feet (Ccf) through 2005.
Southwest
In the fall of 2003, communities in the Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio
service territory started the first opt-out natural gas aggregation program
in the area. Approximately 6,765 households in Jackson Center, Lakeview,
Minster, Tipp City, Versailles, and Yellow Springs are supplied by Interstate
Gas Supply (IGS). For the second year of the program, residents will pay
a flat rate of 92 cents per thousand cubic feet (Ccf) through November
2005.
In 2003 and 2004, the Miami Valley Communications Commission had an
opt-in natural gas program for the residents of Centerville, Germantown,
Kettering, Miamisburg, Moraine, Oakwood, Springboro and West Carrollton.
The group continues to monitor the natural gas market and may consider
a natural gas opt-in or opt-out program in the future.
Southeast
There is no natural gas aggregation activity to date.
Gas Aggregation
General Aggregation Information