Decatur 61 authorizes administration to run live reverse auction for electricity; natural gas pricing to be refreshed

Decatur Public School District 61’s Board of Education on Aug. 5 authorized district administration to conduct a live reverse auction for electricity supply and to pursue updated pricing for natural gas, with the administration given authority to sign contracts if preset thresholds are met.

The action was approved as part of the consent agenda and carried on a 6-0 voice roll call with one member absent. The consent item specifically granted administration approval to accept electric rates and run the auction if thresholds were satisfied.

District consultant Becky, who presented market analysis during the board discussion, told the board the district’s current electricity contract — a roughly five-year agreement with Constellation — was locked at about 4.7 cents per kilowatt-hour, “about a third of what today’s market is.” Becky said the district’s…