Moraine City Council on June 26 received a presentation and public hearing on a proposed opt-out natural gas aggregation program led by Phil Dysart of Palmer Energy on behalf of the Miami Valley Communications Council.

The proposal would allow eligible customers served by CenterPoint Energy to be included in a pooled purchasing program that offers fixed-price supply terms (typically 12, 24 or 36 months), a 21-day opt-out period when notices are mailed and a planned program start in October. Phil Dysart said the program is intended mainly to provide budget stability and a price ceiling for participants.

"With the program, you're gonna have a rate. It's fixed for that term," Dysart said. "...the natural gas program more so acts as a price ceiling, versus the electric where you're saving..." He told the council opt-out letters would be mailed in August and that customers on CenterPoint's PIPP (percentage income payment plan) or already under private supply contracts would be excluded from initial enrollment.

Dysart explained suppliers were solicited for terms and pricing and that the Miami Valley Communications Council's energy committee will consider supplier proposals and recommend whether to sign an agreement. He said Palmer Energy provides the recommendation but does not make decisions for the MVCC.

He described consumer protections built into the program: the 21-day opt-out, a second notice from CenterPoint 10 days before a switch, and no early termination fees for the aggregation so customers can leave at any time.

"We're also creating protection against those folks that are coming door to door to you," Dysart said, warning about short introductory offers from third-party door-to-door sellers that can lock customers into higher rates with early-termination fees.

Council and audience members asked about eligibility and how rates would apply to a mix of residential and small-business accounts. Dysart said the program charges the same supply rate to all participating accounts but that each meter is billed independently by the utility and a customer's monthly charge depends on that meter's usage. He also noted the program cannot affect utility delivery charges, which are regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

The public hearing was opened, questions were taken, and the hearing was adjourned at 6:17 p.m. The council did not take a formal vote on the aggregation plan at the hearing; staff indicated the item would be considered at the Committee of the Whole meeting later the same evening and, if recommended, forwarded to legislation for a vote.

Why it matters: aggregation can affect household and small-business energy bills by providing predictable supply pricing and shielding customers from short-term market spikes, while also centralizing choice of supplier at the jurisdictional level.

No formal action to adopt an aggregation supplier or contract was recorded during the hearing; the council proceeded to its regular meeting and the Committee of the Whole scheduled to act later that night.