Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Energy Gas Aggregation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City approves new gas aggregation contract with Archer Energy, outlines enrollment timeline
Summary
The Sandusky City Commission approved an ordinance authorizing a master service agreement with Archer Energy LLC for the city's residential and small-commercial natural gas aggregation program. Officials described a phased enrollment beginning with a July mailing and an August enrollment window; first bills would arrive in September.
The Sandusky City Commission on March 24 approved an ordinance authorizing the city manager to enter a master service agreement with Archer Energy LLC for the city's residential and small-commercial natural gas aggregation program.
The measure, adopted immediately under Section 14 of the city charter, was moved by Commissioner Patel and passed by unanimous recorded vote of commissioners present. Commissioner Patel moved to adopt the ordinance; the roll call recorded five “yes” votes and no objections.
Tom Belich, an energy broker with Buck Energy Brokers, told the commission the city previously awarded a contract to another supplier but that company could not honor a fixed price and was leaving parts of Ohio. “Not only does Archer Energy have more experience in Columbia Gas, they also could have gotten us around that list issue by getting another list and using those two together to scrub the data,” Belich said. He described a plan that begins with a “guaranteed savings variable price” and aims to lock a fixed price later if market conditions permit.
Belich and staff described a timeline for resident outreach and enrollment: a mailing is expected July 5; residents would have 21 days to opt out; enrollments would take effect in August with the first billing cycle in September. Belich said customers under contract at the time the city scrubs the list and “PIP customers” would be excluded from automatic enrollment. “If you get the letter and do nothing, you're in it,” he said.
City Manager Pellet and commissioners stressed there is always an option to opt out and that no fee will be charged for canceling enrollment. Commissioners also noted the previous supplier had operational issues statewide and several communities in northwest Ohio received no offers earlier; the new contract aims to avoid those problems.
The ordinance directs the city manager to execute the master service agreement with Archer Energy LLC and take steps necessary to implement the aggregation program per the terms presented. The commission adopted the ordinance by roll call; the motion passed and the ordinance takes immediate effect under the city charter.
Commissioners and staff encouraged residents with questions to contact the manager's office for details on the mailing and enrollment process.
