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NOPEC warns Willowick of higher electric costs after PJM capacity auction
Summary
NOPEC representative Kyla Presto told the Willowick City Council that a PJM Interconnection capacity auction will raise capacity fees beginning June 2025, which could increase typical household bills about 10–15%. NOPEC also outlined member benefits, available grant dollars and enrollment figures for the city.
Kyla Presto, the relationship manager for NOPEC, told the Willowick City Council on Feb. 4 that a PJM Interconnection capacity auction will raise electricity capacity prices and likely increase local household bills starting in June 2025.
NOPEC’s presentation explained why the regionwide auction sent capacity prices sharply higher and summarized benefits and resources available to Willowick residents and businesses. "The PJM auction for June 2025 through May 2026 resulted in over an 800% increase in the capacity prices," Presto said. "For the average household in the state of Ohio, this means that cost could go up by about 10 to 15%, which equates to about 2¢ more per kilowatt hour." She added that NOPEC does not set capacity prices and that those fees are passed through to customers across PJM's 13-state footprint.
The presentation included local enrollment and grant figures: 3,491 Willowick households are enrolled with NOPEC for electric service and 2,722 are enrolled for gas. Presto said the city has $32,169 in NOPEC Energized Community Grant awards this year (to be accepted through the NOPEC portal) and a $21,487 rollover balance. She also reported a cumulative $318,154 in NEC grant awards to date and a $2,000 community event sponsorship allocation.
Presto described options available to residents and small businesses to manage bills: default aggregation enrollment (for those not under private contract), 12- and 24-month fixed-rate programs, and a monthly variable market rate. She offered practical conservation tips — using LED bulbs, adjusting thermostats, sealing drafts, washing laundry in cold water and unplugging unused devices — and directed listeners to NOPEC’s Energy Savings Center and recently posted blog for more information. "There are ways to help to offset these increases," she said.
Council members asked timing and implementation questions; Presto said the new capacity prices "will go into effect starting in June 2025" and that NOPEC will notify customers in advance of rate changes. When a council member asked whether an additional PJM vote or infrastructure decision was pending, Presto said she would follow up with the latest information.
The presentation also noted that funding for the WillowWind (WillowWind/Willow Web Cafe was referenced in the presentation) special energy improvement district (ESID) is complete and that NOPEC funding is available for the project. Presto said she had brought printed materials for the council and residents and invited questions at the conclusion of her remarks.
