Lawrence County officials heard a briefing Tuesday on a voter-approved proposal to allow countywide aggregation of electric and natural‑gas supply for unincorporated residents in seven townships ahead of the November ballot.

The presentation by Phil Dicer, an independent energy consultant with Palmer Energy working with the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, outlined how the opt‑out program would bundle eligible households to seek fixed‑price supply contracts and described who would be included or excluded.

Dicer said the ballot measure would allow the commissioners to act as the aggregator if voters approve it. “It is an opt out program,” he said. “All eligible customers … would be automatically opted into the program with the opportunity to opt out.”

Why it matters: aggregation can provide greater purchasing power than individual customers negotiating alone and can give local officials a tool to stabilize supply costs for residents and county facilities. Dicer and commissioners emphasized that savings vary with market conditions and that the program does not force customers to remain in contracts.

How the program would work: if voters approve the initiative, the county would hold two public hearings, obtain certification from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) and then solicit competitive bids from energy suppliers for fixed 12‑, 24‑ or 36‑month contracts. Dicer said the county prosecutor and CCAO would review contracts before signature. After a supplier is selected, residents would receive an opt‑out notice from the supplier with a 21‑day window to decline enrollment.

Who is eligible and who is not: participation would be limited to customers served by publicly regulated utilities — specifically AEP for electric service and Columbia Gas for natural gas — and would exclude customers on percentage‑income payment plans (PIPP), customers already under third‑party supplier contracts (to avoid early‑termination fees), and customers served by Buckeye Rural electric cooperative because co‑ops are not covered by the state aggregation law. Dicer said residential customers on AEP and Columbia Gas in the seven townships (listed in the presentation as Elizabeth, Hamilton, Perry, Rome, Union, Upper and Washington) would be eligible for electric aggregation where they are served by AEP; natural‑gas aggregation would be countywide.

Expected savings and limits: Dicer presented historical results from other Ohio counties, saying a typical residential household might save roughly $40–$50 a year in a normal market and small businesses modestly more; he cautioned that recent outsized savings reflected unusual market timing. He also said there is no early‑termination fee for customers who join or leave an aggregation run by the county.

Questions and next steps: commissioners asked about townships not on the initial electric ballot and whether they could join later. Dicer said a township that did not vote to authorize aggregation on the initial ballot would need its own ballot measure to join but could enroll in a later cycle. He also said Palmer Energy will assist with PUCO filings, public hearings and outreach to township meetings and local media.

Implementation caveats: Dicer noted the county would not be required to sign a supplier contract if bids did not produce savings; the county could choose not to run the program even if the ballot measure passes. Commissioners and staff said they plan further outreach to township trustees and residents to explain the program before the election.