County staff told the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners on July 22 that joining a group energy-purchase pool through the County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO) and Palmer Energy reduced the county's electricity costs.
A county staff member reported the pool arrangement saved the county about $59,400 compared with previous costs. "So we save that just by switching and and going with them," the staff member said.
Staff noted electricity prices are expected to rise broadly this year and presented the savings as a budgetary benefit from participating in a pooled procurement arrangement. No formal action was required; the commissioners received the update and thanked staff.
The county did not discuss changes to service providers or make any new procurement commitments at the meeting; the update was informational and intended to notify the board of realized savings.