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Trustees select electrical supplier




UNION TOWNSHIP – Trustees unanimously selected an energy supplier for the township’s electric aggregation program at their Dec. 29 year-end meeting.

Last May, voters in the unincorporated portions of the township approved an electric aggregation program by a 405-229 unofficial vote. That approval meant that the township’s utility consultant – Trebel LLC – would seek bids from approved electricity suppliers to get the best price for AEP customers in the unincorporated portions of the township. While the Village of Hebron remains in the township, its residents can not participate in the program.

Trebel principal Scott Belcastro told trustees Monday morning that the program had been in a holding pattern since May. He said 2014 has been a transitioning year for AEP. “I think it was prudent to delay,” he added.

Trebel recently sought bids for the township. Two suppliers bid: IGS Energy of Dublin and Constellation Energy of Baltimore, MD. “We got lucky on our timing,” Belcastro told trustees. “We’re at a good spot.”

Both companies offered fixed prices for 12, 24 and 36 month terms. Neither offered set discounts off AEP prices. Neither charge an early termination fee for customers that decide later to drop out of the program.

Belcastro recommended a 24 month contract with IGS. Prices are higher for a 36 month contract and more changes are likely, he noted. IGS bid $0.0719 per kWh compared to $0.0768 from Constellation. IGS now can offer budget billing, Belcastro said, which is not available from Constellation.

Now that trustees have selected a supplier, Trebel will execute a contract with IGS. The final price may vary a bit from the $0.0719 bid due to changes in natural gas prices, Belcastro said. He said the price to compare could be as high as $0.10 per kWh. He expects the program to begin by April 1.

Once the contract is completed, AEP customers will receive an opt-out letter from Trebel. Customers returning the form by the deadline will NOT be included in the program. Residents who want to participate don’t have to do anything.

In other business Monday morning, Trustee President Rick Black said the Licking Cemetery Association board will take its steps next month to turn the cemetery over to the township. They should be done about the time the county engineer’s office redoes the survey, Black said. The first survey included the church building which is not part of the property owned by the association. Township administrator Paula Greene said the county prosecutor’s office is working on transferring ownership of the abandoned and decrepit church building to the township.

It was Black’s last meeting as a trustee. He begins a four-year term as a Licking County commissioner on January 1. “I will miss it,” he said. He praised township road workers Dave Cable and Jim Nauer. “You guys get a lot done.”

Trustees John Slater and Charles Prince will appoint a replacement for a term running through next year. Resumes and letters of interest had to be postmarked no later than Dec. 29.

Black said they should appoint someone electable, noting that township voters outnumber Village of Hebron voters. He also questioned how long Hebron would remain in the township.

Trustees’ re-organizational meeting is set for 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan.5, at the township complex.



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